Japan Press Weekly

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2007 May 16 - 22 [ENVIRONMENT]

Local town assembly unanimously adopts ordinance to reject nuke waste disposal facility

In its extraordinary session held on May 20, the Toyo Town Assembly in Kochi Prefecture unanimously adopted an ordinance to reject the proposal for nuclear waste to be brought into the town.

In defiance of the strong opposition of the residents, the former Toyo Town mayor in January filed (for the first time nationwide) an application for a central government survey to find out a location for a high-level radioactive waste disposal site in a bid to obtain subsidies of 1 billion yen a year.

However, in the mayoral election in April, Sawayama Yasutaro who was calling for blocking the plan was elected. He withdrew the application immediately after assuming office.

Mayor Sawayama submitted to the town assembly the bill to enact the ordinance with the aim of putting an end to the controversy over this issue.
- Akahata, May 21, 2007