nuclear-news

Japan’s govt changes evacuation system, as “radiation hot spots” are found

places that are outside the evacuation zones but are feared to have concentrations of radiation due to geographical or weather conditions will be designated as “specific evacuation recommendation spots.”…….

Govt refines evacuation system, The Yomiuri Shimbun, 18 June 11 The government has decided to adopt a new system that would recommend evacuation from areas affected by radiation from the crisis-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant not by municipality but on a house-by-house basis.

The government’s current evacuation order arrangements are two-layered: a no-entry zone within a 20-kilometer radius of the troubled nuclear plant, and designated areas outside the zone, where radiation levels are feared to exceed the internationally recommended limit of 20 millisieverts per year.

In areas outside the two zones, there are an unspecified number of spots with a possibility of accumulation of radiation doses surpassing the 20 millisievert-per-year limit, according to the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.

Surveys are now under way by the ministry to gauge radiation levels on a house-by-house basis in the areas located outside the no-entry and other evacuation zones, officials said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said in a press conference Thursday places that are outside the evacuation zones but are feared to have concentrations of radiation due to geographical or weather conditions will be designated as “specific evacuation recommendation spots.”…….

Regarding what compensation measures should be provided to the households evacuated under the new evacuation system, Edano said the matter will be up for discussion by the government panel for solving disputes over compensation for the nuclear crisis-triggered problems.

June 19, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | - Fukushima 2011, environment, Japan