The entire area will not be cleaned again

March 20, 2014

No numerical standard for 2nd clean-up

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140321_06.html 

Japanese officials say they will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to conduct decontamination work again at high-radiation areas near the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Some residents around the damaged nuclear power plant are worried about high radiation spots in areas where workers previously cleaned up radioactive substances.

Environment Ministry officials said on Thursday that the entire area will not be cleaned up again.

They said they will monitor radiation levels, detect hot spots and examine each situation.

Senior Vice Environment Minister Shinji Inoue said it is difficult to set a numerical standard at this stage.

He said officials will decide whether to decontaminate an area again after examining radiation levels around the spot and how the radiation levels change as time passes.

Mar. 20, 2014 - Updated 17:44 UTC