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Other Nuclear Politics in Japan

Fukushima  Nuclear Crisis Update for October 2nd to October 4th, 2012 Greenpeace International,  by Christine McCann – October 5, 2012 “….Other Nuclear Politics in Japan Municipal leaders and residents in towns surrounding Electric Power Development Company’s (known in Japan as J-Power) proposed Ohma nuclear power plant are protesting resumption of construction there, citing concerns about their safety in the event of a nuclear disaster. Although the government recently announced that it would eradicate nuclear power in the 2030s, and forbid the building of any new reactors, it said that construction already begun at three plants, including the Ohma facility, could continue. Experts have criticized the move, pointing out that if the Ohma plant is allowed to operate for the government-allotted 40 years, it will extend at least a decade past the 2030s eradication goal. The plant was originally scheduled to be completed in November 2014, but the schedule has now been extended by 18 months. A J-Power executive admitted that the utility was taking advantage of the apparent loophole, noting, “We rushed the announcement of the construction resumption to forestall any policy change.”

Meanwhile, the NRA, responding to concerns from seismic experts, who are worried that a major fault beneath the Ohma site may be active, said that it will consider either ordering J-Power to conduct a seismic study of the area, or will do so itself.

The Mayor of nearby Hokodate, Toshiki Kudo, has threatened to file a lawsuit against the Ohma plant, pointing out, “The central government’s go-ahead for the construction is based on the safety myth that prevailed before the Fukushima disaster. Only 90,000 people live within 50 km of the plant in Aomori Prefecture (where the town of Ohma, financially dependent on the proposed plant, has granted its approval for the construction), but 370,000 live in Hokkaido. Those 370,000 people have heard nothing.” In addition, mayors in Kazamaura Village, Hokuto, and Nanae are protesting the construction, noting that no adequate evacuation routes exist. Each of the municipalities lies within 30 km of the plant, in the Urgent Protective Action Planning Zone (UPZ), and would be forced to evacuate should a nuclear accident occur. Nanae Mayor Yasukazu Nakamiya lamented, “They’ve learned nothing from the lessons of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.”

A Japan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) working group tasked with drafting a new policy outline on nuclear energy said this week that it will end its work, in light of the recently announced government plan to eradicate nuclear power in the 2030s. The group has been drafting such outlines every five years since 1956. Analysts are predicting that the JAEC itself, which was created to promote nuclear power, may eventually be disbanded. (Source: NHK) http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/fukushima-nuclear-crisis-update-for-october-2/blog/42456/

October 5, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics