Proposal Concerning Nuclear Emergency Response Measures
At present, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is carrying out a compliance review of nuclear power plants under the new regulatory standards, and a department for nuclear emergency response measures has been set up in the Cabinet Office. For the Sendai nuclear power plant of Kyushu Electric Power, the process of obtaining the consent of the local authorities has been undertaken, and resumption of operations is expected as early as this winter. Following this, on the 17th of December, the Nuclear Regulation Authority has compiled and publicly released a draft proposal for fitness review of reactors 3 and 4 of Kansai Electric Power’s Takahama Nuclear Power Plant. A special inspection is also being carried out for reactors 1 and 2 as required to approve the application for extension of the operating period which is currently 40 years. With regard to this, we received an explanation from Kansai Electric Power in our Union Committee meeting today.
The Union of Kansai Governments has to date submitted petitions concerning the application of the new regulatory standards and emergency response measures, and, wide area evacuation measures have been arranged in response to requests from the Central Government, leading to the compilation of the wide area evacuation guidelines this March. At present, steps are being taken to ensure the effectiveness of the evacuation methods and other related procedures. Despite this, numerous issues still persist with regard to evacuation measures related to the Takahama nuclear power plant, to which a fresh issue has emerged in the form of extension of the operating period of reactors 1 and 2. At this time, we seek that the Central Government clarify its responsibilities regarding the evaluation of the resumption of operations, and, that the following matters be speedily dealt with.
An environment does not exist for accepting resumption of operations of the Takahama nuclear power plant if the following matters are not implemented.
Notes
- We seek that extension of the operating period of nuclear power plants be cautiously examined because the facilities are old. The operator undertaking the special inspection must be appropriately instructed, and the content of the examination must be adequately explained to the relevant self-governing governments including those in the surrounding areas, and, their understanding on the matter obtained.
- Safety being the first priority, the decision making concerning resumption of operations must be dealt with in a matter that fits the circumstances of this region, rather than following the process of local approval that was undertaken for resumption of operation of the Sendai nuclear power plant.
- The safety agreement between the self-governing governments, including those in the zones which are part of the UPZ, and the operator must be the same level of agreement as the safety agreements with self-governing governments where the plants are located, and, the national government must instruct the operator to conclude these agreements promptly . A legal framework must be created in which, even under normal circumstances, and even if not so required by the safety agreement, information sharing and exchange of views can be undertaken between the self-governing governments on the one hand and the government and operator on the other under which proposals concerning ensuring safety can be made.
- The operator should be instructed and supported to rapidly introduce the currently deferred new functions which are required to be put in place at nuclear power plants under the new regulatory standards, and the implementation schedule etc. explained to the concerned self-governing governments, including those in the surrounding areas, and their understanding on the matter obtained.
- For nuclear disaster wide area evacuation measures, the Central Government must be the primary party to undertake the necessary arrangements in order to realize a wide area evacuation plan that can be effectively implemented.
- The Central Government must take into consideration agreements which the Union of Kansai Governments will be undertaking with civil business organizations in order to concretely establish the medical examination, decontamination and emergency transport of evacuees. Also, with regards to the Central Government’s monitoring information which is to be utilized for the wide area evacuation, a system for executing this must be established which includes areas outside the UPZ as well, and a concrete implementation policy for its utilization must be shown. 7 The deliberation concerning protective measures under PPA (protective measures such as prophylactic use of iodine, taking shelter indoors, etc.) which have finally commenced must be compiled promptly and reflected in the guidelines for nuclear emergency response measures.
25th December 2014
Union of Kansai Governments
Head of the Union: Toshizo Ido (Governor of Hyogo Prefecture)
Deputy Head of the Union: Yoshinobu Nisaka (Governor of Wakayama Prefecture)
Members: Taizo Mikazuki (Governor of Shiga Prefecture)
Keiji Yamada (Governor of Kyoto Prefecture)
Ichiro Matsui (Governor of Osaka Prefecture)
Shinji Hirai (Governor of Tottori Prefecture)
Kamon Iizumi (Governor of Tokushima Prefecture)
Daisaku Kadokawa (Mayor of Kyoto)
Toru Hashimoto (Mayor of Osaka)
Osami Takeyama (Mayor of Sakai)
Kizo Hisamoto (Mayor of Kobe)
Informal English translation by Green Action
Download: Proposal Concerning Nuclear Emergency Response Measures (Informal English translation by Green Action)
Original document (in Japanese):
http://www.kouiki-kansai.jp/data_upload/1419557281.pdf