information about Fukushima published in English in Japanese media info publiée en anglais dans la presse japonaise
30 Juillet 2014
July 30, 2014
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140730_21.html
Jul. 30, 2014 - Updated 06:53 UTC+2
Japan's Environment Ministry has chosen a town in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, as a possible final disposal site for radioactive waste from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011.
The ministry needs to create the disposal facilities because storage is reaching capacity in 5 prefectures.
The facilities are for sewage sludge, incinerated ash, and other waste contaminated with more than 8,000 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive materials.
On Wednesday, Senior Vice Environment Minister Shinji Inoue visited Shioya Town and told Mayor Kazuhisa Mikata and Tochigi Governor Tomikazu Fukuda of the decision. He said state-owned property in the town was chosen after considering safety.
Inoue asked for the town's cooperation in field surveys, adding that the central government will execute the plan while addressing local concerns.
Town Mayor Mikata expressed regret over the decision. He said he told the government that he strongly opposes the plan and wants to protect the local environment.
About 50 local residents gathered in front of the town office in protest.
In September 2012, the ministry chose a state-held forest in Yaita City as the prefecture's candidate site. But the plan faced criticism and the ministry was forced to back down and start the selection process over.
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