CROOKED CLEANUP: Government to investigate Fukushima decontamination

Source: Asahi Shimbun

The government will investigate decontamination work around the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant following reports that potentially radioactive debris has been dumped into the environment, even during the preparatory stage of the program.

“It is extremely regrettable,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference on Jan. 7. “We will take stern measures after fully investigating it.”

An Environment Ministry task force, headed by Senior Vice Minister Shinji Inoue, held its first meeting later in the day. It is expected to investigate what happened in Fukushima Prefecture, strengthen management of the decontamination operations and find ways to restore public trust in the work.

Asahi Shimbun reporters discovered violations of Environment Ministry rules listed in the lucrative contracts signed with construction companies for the decontamination work. Under those rules, workers must properly store collected debris and water used for cleaning buildings for proper disposal.

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Read more: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201301070080