March 17, 2012
Representatives of three civic organizations in Fukui and Shiga prefectures on March 15 jointly visited the Fukui Prefectural government to request that the prefecture disapprove the resumption of operations of Nos. 3 and 4 reactors of Kansai Electric Power Company’s Oi Nuclear Power Plant in Oi Town in Fukui Prefecture.
The representatives said, “This is not only about Fukui but concerns surrounding prefectures as well,” and “Lake Biwa in Shiga is the water reservoir for the entire Kinki region with a population of 14 million. If the lake becomes contaminated with radiation, the damage will be immense.”
A Fukui government official explained to the visitors that the prefecture will determine if the two reactors meet the 30-item standard set as a safety precaution by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency before approving resumption.
The petitioners, however, asked the official, “Are you considering allowing resumption if they meet such low standards? It should be obvious by now that the central government, the NISA, nuclear industry scientists, and NPP operators are not to be trusted.”
They also argued that sticking to nuclear power generation and not shifting to renewable sources of energy will lead to a collapse of local economies where NPPs are located.
The representatives said, “This is not only about Fukui but concerns surrounding prefectures as well,” and “Lake Biwa in Shiga is the water reservoir for the entire Kinki region with a population of 14 million. If the lake becomes contaminated with radiation, the damage will be immense.”
A Fukui government official explained to the visitors that the prefecture will determine if the two reactors meet the 30-item standard set as a safety precaution by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency before approving resumption.
The petitioners, however, asked the official, “Are you considering allowing resumption if they meet such low standards? It should be obvious by now that the central government, the NISA, nuclear industry scientists, and NPP operators are not to be trusted.”
They also argued that sticking to nuclear power generation and not shifting to renewable sources of energy will lead to a collapse of local economies where NPPs are located.
