information about Fukushima published in English in Japanese media info publiée en anglais dans la presse japonaise
12 Décembre 2014
December 12, 2014
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/nuclear.html
Dec. 12, 2014 - Updated 09:31 UTC+1
A town in Fukushima Prefecture has decided to accept a plan to build intermediate storage facilities for radioactive waste stemming from the nuclear accident in 2011.
The Okuma Town assembly made the decision on Friday after Mayor Toshitsuna Watanabe expressed his intention to accept the plan.
Assembly members agreed that the government's proposed compensation for people who will give up their land or property is insufficient, but it has provided a sufficient explanation of the plan.
The members also concluded that they have no way but to accept the plan to speed up post-disaster reconstruction.
Town authorities want to hold a meeting for residents to explain the decision in January.
Okuma is one of the 2 municipalities chosen by the government as candidate sites for the facilities. The other town, Futaba, has not made its position clear.
The damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is located in the towns of Okuma and Futaba.
The government wants to build the facilities on a 16-square-kilometer site in the 2 towns. Waste transportation is due to start in January.
Mayor Watanabe said it is time to make a decision. But he said the town only accepts construction of the facilities and it will ask the central government to sign a safety agreement before bringing in waste. He said the state should also provide support for landowners and other residents.
Assembly chairperson Yukio Chiba said the members approved the plan because the mayor told them that he wants to take a step forward. He urged the government to support residents and town authorities.