What will #Japan do with #contaminated soil near #Fukushima nuclear plant?
April 8, 2025 (Mainichi Japan)
"The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about what Japan will do with soil removed around the #FukushimaDaiichi #NuclearPower Station after the meltdowns triggered by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
Question: What does the term "contaminated soil" that is talked about on the news refer to?
Answer: It points to soil containing radioactive cesium that was dispersed over a wide area due to the 2011 Fukushima power plant meltdowns. After the accident, to minimize residents' exposure to radiation, soil tainted with radioactive cesium underwent a decontamination process and was removed. Approximately 14 million cubic meters of it was collected in Fukushima Prefecture.
Q: What has happened to all that soil?
A: It is currently stored in an "interim storage facility," stretching across the prefectural towns of Futaba and Okuma, adjacent to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The facility in this area, which used to house about 2,700 residents before the accident, was developed by the national government through land purchases and leases. The law promises that the contaminated soil stored there will undergo final disposal outside the prefecture sometime before 2045. To reduce the volume for final disposal, the plan is to use about three-quarters of it for purposes such as road embankments.
Q: Is it safe to use the removed soil?
A: The Ministry of the Environment has set the standard for reusing soil at "a concentration of radioactive cesium of 8,000 becquerels or less per kilogram." This standard has been deemed appropriate by domestic and international expert organizations. The government intends to handle the soil in accordance with international standards to minimize the radiation impact on construction workers and nearby residents. However, since this is an unprecedented endeavor, some experts are concerned about whether it can be managed over a long period without affecting the surrounding area.
Q: Can this really be achieved in 20 years?
A: Even the demonstration project for reuse planned by the Environment Ministry in locations including Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward has not progressed, and it is uncertain whether destinations for reuse or final disposal will be found. Additionally, a national survey revealed that about 80% of people outside Fukushima Prefecture are unaware of this "promise." The government needs to intensify efforts to raise awareness of the contaminated soil issue, especially among people outside Fukushima Prefecture."
Source:
https://mainichi.jp/articles/20250405/ddm/003/070/086000c
#FukushimaIsntOver #RethinkNotRestart #NoNukes #NoNukesForAI #TEPCOLies #JapanGovernment #RadioactiveSoil
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