Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan City Council Discusses Request for Literature Survey on Nuclear Waste Disposal Site

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The city of Hitachiomiya in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, received a request from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to accept a "literature survey" for the selection of a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste. On September 8, the Hitachiomiya City Council held a general question-and-answer session, during which multiple city council members expressed their views on whether to accept the survey.

Of the five city council members who raised questions that day, two expressed opposition to accepting the request, while one expressed support. The city council plans to hold a closed-door meeting on September 9, during which each council member will present their views on the matter. The relevant content will subsequently be conveyed to Mayor Suzuki Sadayuki, who will consider the city government's response.

City council member Kurata Toshiyuki stated that if the literature survey proceeds, it would impact the policies and projects currently being implemented by the city and could hinder regional development, and therefore he opposes accepting the survey. City council member Komuro Sadao pointed out that Ibaraki Prefecture's earthquake disaster assessment survey has already indicated a risk of earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 7 in Hitachiomiya City, and he believes the area is unsuitable as a candidate site for the final disposal facility.

City council member Mashiko Hiroya expressed a supportive stance. He stated that the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste is an issue that must be addressed at the societal and national level, and that the nation also benefits from nuclear energy use, so the request should be viewed from a broader perspective. He also expressed hope that this matter would encourage more local governments to pay attention to the final disposal issue, expand the scope of discussion on the literature survey, and prompt citizens to regard it as an issue relevant to themselves.

According to an explanation from the city council secretariat, the submission deadline for this round of general questions was August 25, and METI submitted the literature survey request to Hitachiomiya City on August 31, so the request was not included in the scope of formal questioning. That day, the relevant council members stated their positions within their originally scheduled questions. Mayor Suzuki Sadayuki did not express an opinion at the meeting.