Government changes tack on finding disposal site for radioactive waste

Source: Asahi Shimbun

The government plans to abandon its ineffective policy of waiting for municipalities to volunteer to host a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste, an industry ministry panel said Nov. 20.

According to the plan, the government will instead try to accelerate the selection process by listing candidate disposal sites for the waste generated from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and considering support measures for potential host communities.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is considering publishing a map as early as next year showing more than 100 locations that are at least scientifically suitable for hosting the disposal site, according to sources. The requirements include the absence of active fault lines and volcanic activity.

“The government must take a leading role in setting up a framework to form a consensus among residents and in formulating measures to support areas (that host the facility),” said Hiroya Masuda, a former internal affairs minister who serves as chairman of the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy’s radioactive waste working group.

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Read more: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201311200060