Residents of the Hokkaido town of Suttsu expressed anxiety on Saturday after survey results were presented regarding where to build a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) held a briefing for Suttsu residents on the results of its so-called literature survey, which looked into research and other data on volcanoes and active tectonic faults near the town.
On Nov. 22, NUMO submitted separate reports to the Hokkaido towns of Suttsu and Kamoenai, which was also a target of a literature survey, which is the first of a three-stage research process to select a final disposal site.
The briefing was the organization's first explanatory event for the public since the reports' submissions.
The report on Suttsu said that the entire town is eligible to advance to the second stage, namely a preliminary survey that involves drilling work, because NUMO could not find any location meeting the criteria for places to avoid for a disposal site.
One participant in Saturday's briefing asked why the organization decided to hold only one briefing session for Suttsu. There was also an opinion that the organization should pay more attention to the views of some experts that the Isoya area in northeastern Suttsu should be avoided due to its volcanic potential.
Following the briefing, NUMO Executive Director Takashi Sakamoto told reporters, "We'll take to heart once more the anxiety and concerns of town residents."
The organization plans to hold similar briefings in Kamoenai and other places in Hokkaido by mid-February next year. It needs to gain the consent of the local mayors and the Hokkaido governor to advance to the second stage, but Gov. Naomichi Suzuki has voiced opposition.
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