International Conference on Advancing the Global Implementation of Decommissioning and Environmental Remediation Programmes CN-238

Lesson Learned from the Implementation of Decontamination iin Japan

25 May 2016, 15:00

25m

Madrid

Oral Technical and Technological Aspects of Implementing Environmental Remediation Programmes Session 4B - 3

Speaker

Mr Hiroyuki KURODA (Ministry of the Environment,Japan)

Description

Lesson Learned from the Implementation of Decontamination in Japan Hiroyuki　Kuroda International Cooperation Office for Decontamination Radioactive Materials, Environment Management Bureau Ministry of the Environment(MOE) ,Japan Upon release of radioactive materials by the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on March 11, 2011, the Government of Japan as well as the prefectural and the municipal governments have been taking measures to decontaminate polluted soils in order to reduce the impact of radioactive pollution of the environment on human health and the living environment as soon as possible. In the efforts for the decontamination, all available resources including those from the central and the local government offices, research institutions, and private cleaning operators are put together, along with the scientific and technical knowledge available from Japan and abroad. Our primary objective is to eliminate the recurrence of such a disaster in the future, but in the meantime, disclosing and sharing our knowledge, experience, and lessons obtained through the decontamination efforts this time with domestic peers and the international community will be significant to accelerate the decontamination work in Japan and minimize the potential damage in future accidents in Japan and abroad for the implementation of expeditious and efficient decontamination. Therefore, the Ministry of the Environment(MOE) published “Decontamination Report” and the report comprehensively compiles the basic policy of the decontamination and implementation framework, knowledge about the management of decontamination projects based on the actual decontamination operations on-site, together with the procedure, conditions and effects of individual decontamination techniques, by mainly focusing on the decontamination operations performed by MOE. As the report shows, the basic idea of decontamination works of the national and the local governments toward residents are as follows; ・Principal radionuclide of environmental pollution is cesium. ・Decontamination should be conducted to reduce the impact on human health or the living environment not only in housing areas and public facilities, but also in more diverse and wide areas such as roads, farmland, forests (living zone only), and the like. ・Decontamination should be implemented as soon as possible in order to realize return of residents in the evacuation areas, to secure their safety, and to rebuild their lives as soon as possible. ・Residents' opinions and familiar way of life should be respected; decontamination should be conducted by paying due consideration to the protection of private rights and maintenance of the community. Based on those principles MOE, other concerned ministries, the Prefectural Government of Fukushima, and other local governments strived to implement decontamination of not only residential areas and public facilities but also of diverse and wide areas of land including roads, farmland, forests adjoining residential areas on a trial-and-error basis, keeping in mind that residents can safely and quickly return home and rebuild their lives. Implementing decontamination works, Some of the lessons we learned are as below; ・Importance of basic technology for decontamination ・Well-organized management for decontamination projects ・Securing the quantity and quality of decontamination workers ・Keeping well-communications with local residents MOE will promote more effective and efficient decontamination works in and around Fukushima Prefecture and share both domestically and internationally our experiences, lessons and knowledge learned through the environmental remediation efforts. REFERENCE 1. Ministry of the Environment ,Japan(MOEJ),2015 “FY2014 Decontamination Report-Digest Version-“ Page1-20, 75-78 2. Ministry of the Environment ,Japan(MOEJ),2015 “Progress on Off-site Clean-Up and Interim Storage in Japan” Page 1-38, 53-57 3. Environmental Information Science(Journal in Japanese) No.2 ,Volume 44, 2015 Hiroshi ONO, “Progress and Challenges on Off-site Decontamination based on the Act of on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Radioactive Pollution” Page 27-32 .