ID :
195379
Sat, 07/16/2011 - 20:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/195379
The shortlink copeid
Gov't to review Fukushima no-entry zone when cold shutdown realized
FUKUSHIMA, Japan, July 17 Kyodo - Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Goshi Hosono, state minister in charge of dealing with the nuclear crisis, met Saturday with the leaders of municipalities near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and said that the central government will consider reviewing its policy on the no-entry zone near the plant when the reactors at the complex are stabilized.
According to participants, the two said the government will consider reviewing the areas within a 20-km radius of the Fukushima plant, which continues to spew radiation, and also said the government is aiming to bring forward the schedule for stabilizing the reactors from January as previously planned.
Kan's meeting with the leaders of local municipalities came as it appeared almost certain that the Step 1 phase of stably cooling down the nuclear reactors will be achieved on time by Sunday.
The first phase of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s time schedule for bringing the troubled nuclear power plant under control includes injecting nitrogen into the No. 3 reactor to prevent a hydrogen explosion.
''To enable a large number of people to go home, we will put all our efforts into realizing Step 2 sooner than planned,'' Kan said during the meeting with the mayors of Minamisoma, Futaba and other local municipalities at a hotel in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture.
The second phase of work to contain the crisis includes achieving a ''cold shutdown'' of the damaged reactors by January and reducing the amount of water at the plant contaminated with radioactive substances.
The government also plans to consult with the heads of local municipalities to narrow down areas designated for possible evacuation near the nuclear plant, Hosono said.
Hosono said the scaling down of the designated areas should occur after taking necessary steps such as radioactive decontamination, but he did not comment on when the designated areas would be revised.
Hosono told reporters after the meeting that the central government will decide on the timing for narrowing down the areas designated for possible evacuation after confirming their safety and thoroughly consulting with local leaders.
In April, a zone covering nine municipalities within a 20 km radius of the Fukushima plant was designated as off-limits by the government, affecting around 10,500 people. A zone 20 to 30 kilometers from the plant was established in which residents were ordered to prepare for possible evacuation or to remain indoors during an emergency situation. About 58,500 residents are subject to the directive.
Hosono also said that the central government will provide full financial support for the disposal of radioactive waste at the nuclear complex, which has been crippled since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Earlier in the day, Hosono said during a meeting with Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato that the government will consider addressing the issue of radioactive waste ''on its own responsibility -- without leaving the matter to local municipalities.''
Hosono made the remarks in response to Sato's demand that all expenses in connection with the disposal of radioactive waste related to the crisis should be covered by the state coffers.
According to participants, the two said the government will consider reviewing the areas within a 20-km radius of the Fukushima plant, which continues to spew radiation, and also said the government is aiming to bring forward the schedule for stabilizing the reactors from January as previously planned.
Kan's meeting with the leaders of local municipalities came as it appeared almost certain that the Step 1 phase of stably cooling down the nuclear reactors will be achieved on time by Sunday.
The first phase of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s time schedule for bringing the troubled nuclear power plant under control includes injecting nitrogen into the No. 3 reactor to prevent a hydrogen explosion.
''To enable a large number of people to go home, we will put all our efforts into realizing Step 2 sooner than planned,'' Kan said during the meeting with the mayors of Minamisoma, Futaba and other local municipalities at a hotel in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture.
The second phase of work to contain the crisis includes achieving a ''cold shutdown'' of the damaged reactors by January and reducing the amount of water at the plant contaminated with radioactive substances.
The government also plans to consult with the heads of local municipalities to narrow down areas designated for possible evacuation near the nuclear plant, Hosono said.
Hosono said the scaling down of the designated areas should occur after taking necessary steps such as radioactive decontamination, but he did not comment on when the designated areas would be revised.
Hosono told reporters after the meeting that the central government will decide on the timing for narrowing down the areas designated for possible evacuation after confirming their safety and thoroughly consulting with local leaders.
In April, a zone covering nine municipalities within a 20 km radius of the Fukushima plant was designated as off-limits by the government, affecting around 10,500 people. A zone 20 to 30 kilometers from the plant was established in which residents were ordered to prepare for possible evacuation or to remain indoors during an emergency situation. About 58,500 residents are subject to the directive.
Hosono also said that the central government will provide full financial support for the disposal of radioactive waste at the nuclear complex, which has been crippled since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Earlier in the day, Hosono said during a meeting with Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato that the government will consider addressing the issue of radioactive waste ''on its own responsibility -- without leaving the matter to local municipalities.''
Hosono made the remarks in response to Sato's demand that all expenses in connection with the disposal of radioactive waste related to the crisis should be covered by the state coffers.
