1 Year Since Govt. Decided To Release Treated Water From Fukushima Daiichi Plant
Wednesday marks one year since the Japanese government decided on a plan to release treated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.
Local fishing groups and others remain opposed to the move on concern it will damage the reputation of seafood from the area.
The plant suffered triple meltdowns in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.
At the plant, water is used to cool molten nuclear fuel. It mixes with rain and groundwater that flows into damaged reactor buildings.
The water is treated to remove most radioactive material, but the filtered water still contains tritium. It is accumulating in tanks.
The treated water will be discharged into the ocean after being diluted to below government safety standards.
The plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company plans to build an undersea tunnel and start releasing the water from one kilometer off the coast around spring next year. TEPCO says it hopes to begin construction work around June, pending Nuclear Regulation Authority approval.
Prior to the start of the work, TEPCO is asking for approval from the plant's host municipalities of Okuma and Futaba towns, as well as Fukushima Prefecture.
The government and TEPCO have also promised the Fukushima Prefectural Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations that the scheme will not start without obtaining approval from related parties.
The fisheries federation is strongly opposing the release.