Japan Press Weekly

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2014 October 1 - 7 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Local assemblies near Sendai NPP demand to be consulted regarding reactivation

Assemblies of Hioki and Ichikikushikino cities, both located within a 30-kilometer radius of the Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture, on September 30 adopted statements demanding that their cities be consulted on the restart of the plant.

This is the first time in Kagoshima Prefecture that a local assembly adopted a statement of this kind regarding the Sendai NPP.

When resuming operations of nuclear power plants, plant operators have to obtain consent of municipalities near their plants. Nevertheless, Kagoshima Governor Ito Yuichiro is insisting that for reactivation of the Sendai power plant, the approval is necessary only from the prefecture and the plant-hosting city of Satsumasendai.

The two city assemblies’ statements note that the state guidelines require municipalities within a 30-kilometer area from a nuclear power plant to draw up an evacuation plan in the event of a nuclear accident. The Hioki City Assembly in its statement stated that it is unacceptable to restart the Sendai station without the city’s consent. The Ichikikushikino City Assembly’s statement urges the governor to obtain prior agreement from the city.

In areas within 30 kilometers from the Sendai plant, residents of municipalities other than Hioki and Ichikikushikino cities are demanding that their municipalities also be asked for permission to activate the plant.