Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Dilute water including tritium and decide to release it to the ocean Government

Regarding the disposal method of water containing radioactive substances such as tritium, which is increasing at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the government will hold a ministerial meeting on the 13th and decide on a policy to dilute it to a concentration below the national standard and release it to the sea I have decided.

TEPCO will compensate for the damage caused by strengthening monitoring to check the concentration of tritium before and after the release and thoroughly taking measures against reputational damage.

Regarding the disposal method of water containing radioactive substances such as tritium, the national subcommittee reports that it is realistic to dilute the concentration below the standard and release it into the sea or the atmosphere, and it is more reliable in the sea. Having compiled the book, the government has carefully considered it by listening to the opinions of the locals.

As a result, the government will hold a ministerial meeting on the 13th to decide the policy of releasing it to the sea.

Gearing up specifically to be released from the site of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to the prospect of two years later, when the release, the concentration of tritium in the 40 minutes of national standards 1, WHO = World Health Organization is of drinking water show The standard is to dilute it to about 1/7.

In addition, local governments and fisheries will join in to strengthen monitoring to monitor tritium concentrations before and after release.

Furthermore, with the cooperation of the IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency, we will disseminate highly transparent and objective information both domestically and internationally to suppress rumors, support fishery personnel, promote sales of local products, and attract tourists. Boost.

TEPCO will compensate for the damage caused by rumors.

In addition, new meetings will be set up by relevant ministers to flexibly implement additional measures as necessary.

However, local concerns such as the opposition of fisheries officials are deep-rooted in the release to the sea, so the government and TEPCO will be required to take thorough measures to ensure safety and suppress rumors.

Local fisherman "There will always be reputational damage"

While the government decided to release water containing radioactive substances such as tritium into the sea, fishermen in Fukushima Prefecture said that their understanding of safety had not penetrated during this period. We are still opposed to making decisions.

Kanji Tachiya, the head of the Soma Futaba Fisheries Cooperative, said, "The government simply says that it should be flushed into the sea, but rumors will inevitably occur if the safety of treated water is not understood by people all over the country and overseas. The government says that it will take measures against rumors, but the specific content is not shown and it cannot be trusted. "

He added, "I feel that this problem is not unique to Fukushima. The government must promote the understanding of water safety and security to all the people before deciding on a policy." Should be decided after further discussions with local and national people.

In addition, regarding TEPCO, which will be disposed of, "Recently, there have been a series of deficiencies such as leaving the seismograph of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant broken, and the explanation will be given later, and the credibility has declined. He criticized, "I want you to discuss what to do with treated water after ensuring safety and security."

Iwaki Ryokan management man "No specific explanation for rumors and compensation"

Mr. Daimei, who runs an inn near the sea in Onahama, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, feels resentful that the disposal method will be decided without explanation of specific measures against rumors.

Mr. Ohira's inn serves dishes that are particular about fish from the prefecture, but after the nuclear accident, the number of passengers dropped to about 20% at one point, and it is still only about 50%.

Regarding the release of treated water to the ocean, Mr. Ohira himself said, "For those who do not understand tritium well, it is still radioactive, so I think that it is far from Fukushima Prefecture," he said. I will.

However, the union made at inns and hotels in the prefecture went to the sea at a meeting held by the government in April last year, saying that "the impact will be relatively suppressed" on the condition that measures against rumors and compensation for damages are taken. Has announced a policy to support the release of.

However, after that, Mr. Ohira felt that the meeting to hear his opinions was formal because there was no concrete explanation from the government about measures against rumors and compensation.

Mr. Ohira said, "The country is for the people, and we can't decide on our own. We are in trouble with this, and if we release it to the ocean, please take measures against rumors. Even if you talk about something like that, if it means that you will suddenly release it by crushing nothing, anything is terrible. "

Experts who are familiar with rumors "The important thing in the future is the trust of TEPCO and the government"

Professor Ryota Koyama of Fukushima University, who is familiar with the damage caused by rumors about fisheries and agriculture and was also a member of the national subcommittee, said, "We have not reached an agreement with stakeholders such as fishermen about the national process for deciding the disposal method. Even so, it may have been necessary to make an effort to reach an agreement, deepen the discussion, and then decide on the disposal method. "

On top of that, regarding the current situation regarding treated water, "Not only is there no widespread understanding among the public about what treated water is and what disposal methods have been considered, but the problem of treated water itself is hardly known. The current situation is that the prefecture's products are consumed in areas other than Fukushima Prefecture, centered on the Tokyo metropolitan area, so if only Fukushima understands it and the degree of understanding does not increase in other areas, it will cause reputational damage. It becomes a structural problem and requires public understanding. "

Regarding the response required of the government in the future, "The most important thing is the trust of TEPCO, which is the main body of the ocean release, and the government that supports it. Is it really safe or is the government correct? If we cannot win the trust of the people, we may need to be prepared to not release it. In order to promote understanding, it is a place for dialogue to answer the concerns and questions of the people one by one. It is necessary to hold the event not only in Fukushima but all over the country, and to explain it not only to Japan but also to other countries in the vicinity. "