Five prefectures, including Akita, Hyogo, Nara, and Miyazaki, may accommodate removed Fukushima soil under strict conditions related to safety, financial support, and emergency response, following a survey by The Yomiuri Shimbun. The government must dispose of approximately 14.07 million cubic meters of soil outside Fukushima by March 2045.
A recent survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun reveals that five prefectures are open to the possibility of hosting final disposal sites for soil removed during the decontamination efforts after the Fukushima disaster. The governors of Akita, Chiba, Hyogo, Nara, and Miyazaki expressed conditional acceptance of the soil, with Chiba’s stance differing slightly from the others.
The four prefectures—Akita, Hyogo, Nara, and Miyazaki—stated they would only accommodate the soil if certain conditions are met. These include stringent safety measures to eliminate health risks, robust strategies to mitigate reputational damage, financial compensation for hosting the disposal sites, and a reliable emergency response system for prospective accidents.
Under Japanese law, the removed soil must be disposed of outside of Fukushima Prefecture by the deadline of March 2045. The national government is focused on creating public consensus to facilitate the relocation within the next 20 years.
As of late February, approximately 14.07 million cubic meters of the contaminated soil are stored at interim facilities located in Okuma and Futaba. To address this issue, the government plans to establish a detailed roadmap by summer in order to meet the disposal deadline.
The survey, which aimed to assess the preferences of all prefectures except Fukushima, received responses from 46 prefectures between January and February.
In conclusion, the willingness of five prefectures to consider hosting the final disposal of removed Fukushima soil highlights crucial discussions regarding safety and public health. Each district has set specific conditions for acceptance, and the Japanese government has a significant task ahead of them to ensure compliance with legal requirements and to foster public support as the 2045 deadline approaches.
Original Source: japannews.yomiuri.co.jp
