Suttsu Town Applies For Nuclear Waste Site Survey
A town in the northernmost Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido has applied for the first-stage survey for the government's selection of a final disposal site for nuclear waste.
The mayor of Suttsu, Kataoka Haruo, submitted the application to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan, or NUMO, in Tokyo on Friday.
The town applied for the first part of a three-stage survey by the government to select a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.
NUMO President Kondo Shunsuke said he wants to thank the town for submitting the application. He said he respects the town's efforts to take part in an important state project.
Kataoka responded that there will be more challenges ahead, and asked for the state's leadership.
Suttsu Town is the first municipality to apply for the survey since the government released a map in 2017 showing areas deemed suitable in scientific terms to host such sites underground.
In 2007, a town in Kochi Prefecture, western Japan, filed an application, but withdrew it after objections from local residents.
NUMO plans to begin the survey in Suttsu after obtaining approval from the government. The survey is expected to take about two years.
Meanwhile, Kamoenai village, also in Hokkaido, is considering applying for the survey. The government plans to ask the village on Friday whether it would accept the survey.
If the village accepts, the first-stage survey could start in two municipalities in Hokkaido to move forward a long-stalled process to select the host of a final disposal site.
But some residents are opposed to the survey. The governor of Hokkaido has already stated that he would object to the survey advancing to the second stage.
The first-stage survey would provide up to 2 billion yen, about 19 million dollars in state subsidies in two years. But the following stages may not be conducted without the approval of the prefecture.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Kajiyama Hiroshi said the government expresses gratitude and respect to Suttsu Town for reaching the decision after many discussions. He said the government plans to move forward with the process while maintaining communications with the local people to deepen understanding.
Kajiyama held a meeting with Kataoka on Friday. Kataoka said later that a disposal site is needed somewhere in the country, and he wanted to revive the stalled discussions on the matter.
He said he hopes to learn more about the final disposal site while consulting Suttsu residents.
