The National Governors' Association requested the Nuclear Regulation Authority to improve and strengthen the system to ensure that the review can be conducted in a strict and prompt manner.
The request was made by Tatsuya Maruyama, Governor of Shimane Prefecture, where the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant is located, on behalf of the National Governors' Association, and handed the document to Hiroshi Katayama, Director General of the Nuclear Regulation Authority.
In this context, the National Governors' Association has asked the Nuclear Regulation Authority to improve and strengthen the system so that it can conduct strict and prompt reviews, which are prerequisites for the restart of nuclear power plants, and to provide operators with measures to protect nuclear materials. We are calling for the strengthening of guidance and supervision.
Governor Maruyama said, "Prolonging the examination will lead to residents' anxiety, so I would like you to improve the procedure and proceed steadily without delay, while maintaining rigor."
In response to this, Commissioner Katayama replied, "We will try to devise ways to ensure that strict examinations are the main premise. We would like to work hard while maintaining a common understanding with business operators."
After the request, Governor Maruyama said, "If the review takes a long time, there will be doubts that there is a problem with the nuclear power plant, so I want you to work hard."
Nine years have passed since Hokkaido Electric Power Company's No. 3 Tomari Nuclear Power Plant applied for the restart, and eight and a half years have passed since Chubu Electric Power Company's No. 4 Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant restarted.