Public protest in Ohma (2)

October 2, 2012

Hakodate mayor to file suit demanding halt to construction of nuke plant

Citizens group members call for a suspension of the resumption of construction of the Oma Nuclear Power Plant, in this picture taken in front of the Hakodate Municipal Government office in Hakodate, Hokkaido, on Oct. 1. (Mainichi)

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20121002p2a00m0na014000c.html

HAKODATE, Hokkaido -- The mayor of this city has announced a plan to file a suit demanding the suspension of the construction of the Oma Nuclear Power Plant, which lies only 23 kilometers away from this exotic port city.

Hakodate Mayor Toshiki Kudo made the announcement on Oct. 1, after Electric Power Development Co. (J-Power) announced a resumption of the construction of the plant in Oma, Aomori Prefecture, earlier the same day. The construction had been suspended following the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant in Fukushima Prefecture in March last year.

Local governments neighboring Hakodate are also opposing J-Power's move, prompting the issue to extend beyond the Tsugaru Straits between mainland Honshu, where Aomori Prefecture is located, and Hokkaido.

J-Power President Masayoshi Kitamura visited the Aomori Prefecture village of Kazamaura, adjacent to the town of Oma, on Oct. 1, but Kazamaura Village Mayor Koichi Iida expressed displeasure, saying, "I didn't expect J-Power would come here this hastily. We haven't approved of the construction yet."

The village has demanded that J-Power prepare evacuation routes in case of a nuclear disaster as a prerequisite for restarting the plant's construction. However, no progress has been made on such routes, nor has the location of an off-site center to serve as a base in the event of a nuclear disaster been determined yet. "If the village is cut apart by tsunami or other disasters, where can we escape to?" questioned Mayor Iida.

Meanwhile, J-Power Managing Director Toshifumi Watanabe visited Hakodate, where he told Mayor Kudo, "As a plant operator, we have secured enough evidence to support a resumption of the construction."

However, Kudo demanded an indefinite freezing of the construction, arguing that the reason for building a new nuclear plant is unclear; no briefings have been held for residents in southern Hokkaido; and that the mayor is concerned about possible damage to local tourism and the fishing industry due to harmful rumors in case of a nuclear accident.

The city of Hakodate will fall under the Urgent Protective Action Planning Zone (UPZ) within a 30-kilometer radius from the Oma plant in case a disaster hits the nuclear complex. At a press conference following their meeting, Mayor Kudo said, "I'm considering filing a suit if construction gets into full swing, in order to protect the safety and security of our citizens." If filed with a court, the lawsuit will be the nation's first for a local government to demand the suspension of a nuclear power station.

The mayors of neighboring municipalities also voiced concern about a resumption of the plant's construction. Hokuto Mayor Toshimine Takaya said, "We, along with the city of Hakodate, will call on the company to freeze the construction," while Nanae Town Mayor Yasukazu Nakamiya said, "They've learned nothing from the lessons of the Fukushima nuclear disaster."

J-Power Vice President Minoru Hino visited the Hokkaido Prefectural Government and sought understanding for the construction, saying, "We've made a comprehensive decision as a company." However, Hokkaido Vice Gov. Kenichiro Tada counter-argued, saying, "The decision to restart the construction is extremely regrettable. Our awareness toward the safety of nuclear plants has changed a great deal in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear crisis."