Japan Press Weekly

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Cause of radioactivity leaks have not been established ?U.S. nuclear-powered submarine

Akahata editorial

The U.S. and Japanese governments are trying to forgo a thorough investigation of the cause of the leaks of cooling water contaminated with radioactivity from the U.S. nuclear-powered submarine Houston. It has been known that the U.S. sub has repeatedly entered Japanese ports for two years.

Discharging radioactive cooling water at Japanese ports is a serious threat to the safety of the Japanese people.

The planned deployment of the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington to Yokosuka Port is unacceptable.

Many questions remain unanswered

In its final report submitted to Japan on August 29, the United States admitted that the radioactive leak from the Houston was of oxidized metals such as cobalt, and that radioactivity leaks continued for two years from June 2006 to July 2008. However, it states that “the extremely small leakages” posed “no adverse effect” on health, and that no further information shall be supplied.

The United States has made neither self-criticism nor apology for the submarine’s calls at Yokosuka Port (Kanagawa Pref.), Sasebo Port (Nagasaki Pref.), and White Beach (Okinawa Pref.), and the leakage of radioactivity.

The U.S. refusal to supply further information is an insult to the Japanese people. Concerned local governments in Japan are calling for the cause of the leaks to be thoroughly examined.

The U.S. final report shows that investigation of the cause of the radioactive leaks is far from being complete. It has not specified the valve from which water containing radiation leaked. It will be very grave if the broken valve was part of the primary coolant system that directly cools down nuclear reactors.

We know that in April 2006, the U.S. Navy in its “Fact Sheet on U.S. Nuclear Powered Warship (NPWs) Safety” stated, “The design ensures that no measurable leakage takes place from this primary system.”

The report stated that the Houston’s leakage from the broken valve continued for two years without giving any reason. The U.S. government must come clean with the facts.

Japan’s municipalities, which have ports that accept visits of U.S. nuclear-powered warships, are demanding that a thorough investigation into the leakage be made and that steps be taken to prevent similar leakages.

Mayor Tomonaga Norio of Sasebo City, which hosts the U.S. Fleet Activities at Sasebo, stated, “So long as questions remain unanswered, we cannot say for sure that we will approve their visit.” The Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly sent a statement to the government, saying, “We cannot accept it.”

Governor Nakaima Hirokazu of Okinawa Prefecture argued, “Unless the safety of the U.S. ships is confirmed, they should refrain from visiting Okinawa.” Governor Matsuzawa Shigefumi of Kanagawa Prefecture stated, “The issue of accepting U.S. nuclear-powered ships can be discussed only after a thorough investigation into the accident is made and preventive measures taken.”

Time to end subservience to the U.S.

The Japanese government’s subservience to the U.S. can be confirmed by declassified U.S. documents, which Niihara Shoji, an international affairs analyst, revealed. In the 1963 Japan-U.S. negotiations, the U.S. government stated that it was necessary to release cooling water but did not clarify the danger of possible radioactive leaks. It rejected the Japanese request that information regarding the safety of nuclear-powered submarines be provided. The reason the United States gave for the rejection was that such data are all classified. This shows how deep Japan’s subservience to the United States is.

How can a government that cannot say anything that might possibly be upsetting to the United States ensure that the Japanese people are safe? The urgent task is for us to pave the way for Japan to become genuinely independent and peaceful.

- Akahata, September 18, 2008