International Atomic Energy Agency announces: Soil in Fukushima can be cleaned

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that the 'plan to decontaminate and reuse' soil found around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is safe.

According to Japan's Kyodo news agency, an IAEA expert team, which included specialists from various countries, presented its final review report to Japanese Environment Minister Shintaro Ito in the capital, Tokyo.

The report stated that 'the approach and activities implemented for the final disposal of soil and waste removed through recycling are consistent with IAEA Safety Standards.'

According to the report, which documents the team's field inspections over the last 16 months at the request of the Japanese government, the IAEA found the reuse of decontaminated soil from the plant to be "safe."

REVIEW RESULTS ARE PROMISING

Minister Ito described the report's findings as 'encouraging,' stating, 'In the future, we will continue our efforts toward the effective management, recycling, and final disposal of the removed soil.'

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated in his remarks on the matter, 'Recycling and disposing of the soil also contributes to the reconstruction of areas affected by the accident.'

The total volume of decontaminated soil placed in storage facilities covering a 16-square-kilometer area in the Okuma and Futaba districts near the nuclear facility is approximately 14 million cubic meters.

The 'decontaminated soil,' which has a low concentration of radioactive material, is planned to be used in public projects across the country until 2045, with the remainder to be disposed of.

In 2011, a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9 earthquake caused damage to 3 of the 4 reactors at the plant, and the area surrounding the plant was declared an 'evacuation zone' due to radioactive fallout.

News Source: AA