December 5, 2015
Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Fujino Yasufumi revealed on December 4 that military aircraft are frequently flying over nuclear power plants across the country and urged the government to prohibit such dangerous flights.
On that day, the Lower House’s economy and industry committee held a meeting during the recess of the Diet. In that session, Fujino referred to the reports which power companies recently submitted to the Secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA).
According to those reports, between April 2013 and November 2015, warplanes and helicopters of the U.S. military and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces flew 148 times over 12 nuclear power stations around the nation. They flew above the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant in Ehime Prefecture 59 times (40% of total) during the same period of time. The Abe administration is aiming to restart the Ikata plant as early as next spring.
Fujino pointed to the fact that the Land Ministry had twice given an official notice instructing relevant organizations not to fly over nuclear power facilities and that the written agreement of the 1999 Japan-U.S. Joint Committee requires the U.S. military in Japan to refrain from making flights over those facilities. “They are completely ignoring these instructions,” he said.
Industry Minister Hayashi Motoo said in response, “Naturally, it is best not to fly over nuclear power plants.” He added that he will consider conducting a detailed investigation into the issue.
The JCP legislator stressed that it is totally unacceptable for the Abe government to reactivate idled nuclear reactors across the country while leaving this dangerous situation as it is. Citing the fact that prefectures hosting nuclear power facilities are calling for a legal ban on such overflights, he pushed the administration to respond to their demand as soon as possible.
Past related article:
> Gov’t should ban US military aircraft from flying over nuclear fuel facilities: JCP Kasai [May 20, 2014]
On that day, the Lower House’s economy and industry committee held a meeting during the recess of the Diet. In that session, Fujino referred to the reports which power companies recently submitted to the Secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA).
According to those reports, between April 2013 and November 2015, warplanes and helicopters of the U.S. military and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces flew 148 times over 12 nuclear power stations around the nation. They flew above the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant in Ehime Prefecture 59 times (40% of total) during the same period of time. The Abe administration is aiming to restart the Ikata plant as early as next spring.
Fujino pointed to the fact that the Land Ministry had twice given an official notice instructing relevant organizations not to fly over nuclear power facilities and that the written agreement of the 1999 Japan-U.S. Joint Committee requires the U.S. military in Japan to refrain from making flights over those facilities. “They are completely ignoring these instructions,” he said.
Industry Minister Hayashi Motoo said in response, “Naturally, it is best not to fly over nuclear power plants.” He added that he will consider conducting a detailed investigation into the issue.
The JCP legislator stressed that it is totally unacceptable for the Abe government to reactivate idled nuclear reactors across the country while leaving this dangerous situation as it is. Citing the fact that prefectures hosting nuclear power facilities are calling for a legal ban on such overflights, he pushed the administration to respond to their demand as soon as possible.
Past related article:
> Gov’t should ban US military aircraft from flying over nuclear fuel facilities: JCP Kasai [May 20, 2014]
