Contaminated materials storage

The government has indicated that it will soon present a plan on how long contaminated materials from the Fukushima nuclear accident will need to be stored at temporary storage sites.

Senior government and regional officials met on Monday to discuss ways to handle problems caused by the nuclear contamination.

Fukushima officials said they cannot set up temporary storage sites for the contaminated materials, such as soil removed from polluted areas, unless they know how long the materials will be stored before being moved to mid-term storage facilities.

Nuclear crisis minister Goshi Hosono said the government will present a timetable this month.

Fukushima Governor Yuhei Sato called for a change in procedures for those applying for compensation for losses related to the nuclear accident.

He said those affected must complete application forms prepared by Tokyo Electric Power Company, and that the procedure puts the sufferer at a disadvantage.

Reconstruction minister Tatsuo Hirano replied that the procedure may not be neutral.

Monday, October 17, 2011 19:41 +0900 (JST)