Government asks city of Hitachiomiya to accept nuclear waste site survey

On Monday, the industry ministry requested the city of Hitachiomiya in Ibaraki Prefecture to allow a survey to identify a potential final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. Should this proceed, Hitachiomiya would become the fifth Japanese location to undergo such a survey, following Suttsu and Kamoenai in Hokkaido, Genkai in Saga Prefecture, and Minamitorishima, a remote Pacific island.

This is the second occasion the central government has sought approval for a survey without prior local community input. Officials from the ministry met with Mayor Sadayuki Suzuki and presented him with a written request. Suzuki expressed a positive view of the request, stating he would decide after consulting the city assembly.

Later, Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa commended Suzuki for taking the state's request seriously, adding that the government plans to reach out to other municipalities to expand survey areas. Hitachiomiya, situated in northwestern Ibaraki Prefecture, borders Tochigi Prefecture. The city was included in a 2017 government map of locations with favorable geological features for a final disposal facility, such as a lack of nearby volcanoes or active faults.

Despite being landlocked, parts of Hitachiomiya lie approximately 20 kilometers from the coast, providing a transportation advantage. The initial literature survey, part of a three-stage selection process, will take about two years to examine geological maps and scientific papers, focusing on potential volcanic and fault impacts.

Local prefectural governors and municipal heads must approve the second and third stages of detailed investigations. The overall selection process is projected to take around 20 years. Ibaraki Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa stated he would "closely watch" the city's response.