Japan Press Weekly

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2011 June 8 - 14 [ENVIRONMENT]

Radiation leak at uranium plant horrifies local residents

A uranium fuel processing plant in Kanagawa’s Yokosuka City has caused leakage of radioactive liquid, terrifying nearby residents.

A growing number of local residents are calling on the plant operator, the central government, and local authorities to implement the appropriate security measures.

According to Akahata on June 9, an employee of Global Nuclear Fuel Japan (GNF-J) found leakage of radioactive fluid due to waste drum corrosion when patrolling the plant’s waste storage yard at the end of last month. The company later checked other waste containers and discovered another eroded drum.

Over the past three years alone, the plant has had three accidents in addition to the latest discovery of leakage, including exposure of a worker to radiation.

Toshiba Corporation, Hitachi Ltd., and the U.S. General Electric Company jointly established Japan Nuclear Fuel, GNF-J’s predecessor, in 1967 as a facility to process uranium fuel to be used at all nuclear power stations in Japan. The company in its plant stores about 18,000 drums of radioactive waste.

As no law exists in regard to the transport of radioactive waste from one place to another, it will be kept in storage at the plant.

“With the ongoing Fukushima nuclear crisis in the news, we can’t stay calm,” said a nearby resident. He recalled that when the company began operating the plant, he had no idea that the facility was to be a site for nuclear fuel processing.

A local peace group leader said, “Many residents here still do not realize that the plant is producing nuclear fuel for nuclear power stations. At first, we need disclosure of all information. Then, an emergency evacuation drill should take place with the participation of the local residents.”