July 20, 2023
The Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers' group on July 19 made a representation to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), demanding that the current proposed policy of releasing ALPS-treated radiation-tainted water into the ocean from TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant be withdrawn.
JCP Lower House members Kasai Akira, Shiokawa Tetsuya and Takahashi Chizuko, and JCP Upper House members Iwabuchi Tomo and Kami Tomoko took part in the representation.
Takahashi said that 80% of respondents in the latest opinion poll think that the government explanation on its ocean release policy is "insufficient". Receiving the JCP group, METI Vice Minister Ota Fusae said that the discharge of the ALPS-treated water into the sea will be "inevitable" by emphasizing its safety on the grounds of the IAEA comprehensive report.
Takahashi proposed that the government explore alternatives other than the ocean release.
The JCP Dietmembers' group added that the government should keep its word to not proceed with disposal without gaining the understanding of local residents and concerned citizens, and that fishermen in not only Fukushima but also Hokkaido and Ibaraki are expressing concern about the safety of the wastewater release.
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The Citizens' Commission on Nuclear Energy, which makes policy proposals aimed at creating a nuclear-free society, on July 18 announced its opinion that the IAEA comprehensive report released on July 4 does not meet the IAEA safety standards and thus suggested the need to consider other alternatives.
The commission said that the IAEA failed to examine whether the advantages of an environmental discharge of radioactive materials would exceed the potential damage. The commission also said that the process in which the Japanese government and TEPCO have worked on the ocean release plan despite their "we will gain understanding of local residents" promise made to local fishermen is not mentioned in the IAEA comprehensive report.
Past related article:
> Shii: Gov’t should not use IAEA report to force ocean release of tritium-tainted Fukushima water [July 7, 2023]
JCP Lower House members Kasai Akira, Shiokawa Tetsuya and Takahashi Chizuko, and JCP Upper House members Iwabuchi Tomo and Kami Tomoko took part in the representation.
Takahashi said that 80% of respondents in the latest opinion poll think that the government explanation on its ocean release policy is "insufficient". Receiving the JCP group, METI Vice Minister Ota Fusae said that the discharge of the ALPS-treated water into the sea will be "inevitable" by emphasizing its safety on the grounds of the IAEA comprehensive report.
Takahashi proposed that the government explore alternatives other than the ocean release.
The JCP Dietmembers' group added that the government should keep its word to not proceed with disposal without gaining the understanding of local residents and concerned citizens, and that fishermen in not only Fukushima but also Hokkaido and Ibaraki are expressing concern about the safety of the wastewater release.
* * *
The Citizens' Commission on Nuclear Energy, which makes policy proposals aimed at creating a nuclear-free society, on July 18 announced its opinion that the IAEA comprehensive report released on July 4 does not meet the IAEA safety standards and thus suggested the need to consider other alternatives.
The commission said that the IAEA failed to examine whether the advantages of an environmental discharge of radioactive materials would exceed the potential damage. The commission also said that the process in which the Japanese government and TEPCO have worked on the ocean release plan despite their "we will gain understanding of local residents" promise made to local fishermen is not mentioned in the IAEA comprehensive report.
Past related article:
> Shii: Gov’t should not use IAEA report to force ocean release of tritium-tainted Fukushima water [July 7, 2023]
