Resolution Calling for the Relief for the People Affected by the Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant Accident and for the Facilitation of Disaster Recovery
Even though four and a half years have passed since the occurrence of the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant accident (the “Accident”), the problems associated therewith remain far from resolved. Taking Fukushima Prefecture as an example, approximately 110,000 affected people are still left with no choice but to live as evacuees. Of those, approximately 45,000 people, accounting for roughly 40 percent thereof, have been evacuated from their hometown to other prefectures. Thus, the JFBA has made the following resolutions in order to protect the health and lives of the people affected by the Accident and to eliminate the causes which have been damaging the health and lives of the affected and to promote the recovery of the affected areas and people.
1. Dealing with health problems and reconstructing the lives of the affected
(1) The Japanese government should conduct free health examinations (including blood and urine tests) in a regular and continuous manner on the persons who used to live and/or who are currently living in the affected areas, and widely share the results so that they can be verified by specialists.
(2) The government should establish a system in which the affected who are recognized as having suffered from ill health attributable to the Accident, as well as other negative health impacts, will be able to receive medical treatment without payment.
(3) The government should conduct the following as concrete measures to realize the aims of the “Act on Promotion of Support Measures for the Lives of Disaster Victims to Protect and Support Children and Other Residents Suffering Damage Due to Tokyo Electric Power Company's Nuclear Accident”:
(a) To improve the living conditions in the affected areas for the residents who are living in or who have returned to such areas. Further, to provide support concerning reconstruction of their lives, such as housing assistance for the residents who have been evacuated to other areas;
(b) To provide counseling, etc. to the affected whose mental and physical health have been adversely affected; and
(c) To establish a system which provides for care and rest for the children who have been affected by the Accident, aiming to recover their mental and physical health.
2. Measures against contaminated water due to the Accident
(1) The government should promptly take measures to prevent the leakage of highly-concentrated contaminated water from the site of the reactors which house the same.
(2) Furthermore, the government and the Tokyo Electronic Power Company, Inc. should: (i) review and reconstruct the processes relating to contaminated water with a view to minimizing the extent of radiation exposure for the workers who have been engaging in the work of keeping the contaminated water under control; (ii) correctly grasp the situation concerning the extent of radiation exposure of the workers; and (iii) better protect the health of workers and provide sufficient life support.
(3) The government should also: (i) continue to measure the amount of radiation at the site which houses the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, the neighboring coastal areas, rivers and ocean; and (ii) disclose such information to the public, together with the results of the measurements conducted by other institutions, in an integrated fashion.
3. Waste contaminated by radioactive materials due to the Accident
(1) The government should revise the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Act on Special Measures (Act No. 110 of August 30, 2011 as amended) in order to tighten the designated standards for deeming waste to be designated waste by an appreciable extent.
(2) When waste is recognized as being applicable to the designated standards, the Environment Minister should be able to designate such waste as designated waste without the need to receive an application from the owner of such waste.
(3) Concerning the waste contaminated by radioactive materials, disposal standards should be drawn up which give more consideration to safety. Further, when constructing, controlling and operating the incineration facilities and final disposal facilities, appropriate systems should be established, such as appropriate environmental assessment systems, safety examination systems, and a system which would realize sufficient information disclosure and participation of residents, as well as setting up an independent and objective monitoring institution with a neutral stance. The national and local governments should draw up disposal standards for the designated waste which gives consideration to the safety thereof.
(4) The government should make every effort to bring about sufficient information disclosure and resident participation when drawing up of the policy for disposal of designated waste.
October 2, 2015
Japan Federation of Bar Associations
