Govt. Decides On Treated Water Release Plan
The Japanese government has officially decided to release treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean, after diluting it to levels below national regulations.
The draft bill was endorsed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said on Tuesday morning, "The government has come to the conclusion that releasing the treated water into the sea is a realistic solution. We will do our utmost to keep the water far above safety standards, while taking every possible measure to fend off any negative rumors."
This year marks a decade since northeastern Japan was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami, crippling the power plant.
Wastewater produced at the facility is stored in tanks that are set to fill up next year.
It's treated by the Advanced Liquid Processing System, or ALPS, to remove most of the radioactive materials, but still contains radioactive tritium.
The government will ask the plant's operator, known by its acronym TEPCO, to prepare equipment needed to release the treated water in about two years.
The concentration of tritium is to be diluted to one-40th of the national regulations or about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's standard for drinking water.
The plan calls for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency to disseminate transparent and objective information at home and abroad.
It also pledges support for the local fishery, tourism and agricultural industries. If there is damage to the reputation of an industry, the plan calls for TEPCO to provide compensation.
TEPCO President, Kobayakawa Tomoaki, said, "We will work hard to fulfill our responsibility to strike a balance between regional reconstruction, and decommissioning the reactors throughout the lengthy decommissioning process."
Local concerns persist over the ocean discharge plan. People in the fishing industry have been against the idea.