May 21, 2015
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2015 May 20 - 26 [SOCIAL ISSUES]
Protests follow NRA draft report claiming Ikata nuclear power plant to be safe |
The anti-nuke citizens criticized the NRA by saying that the estimated magnitude of possible earthquakes in the draft report is a gross underestimate and that the nuclear watchdog failed to confirm if emergency evacuation plans for local residents are workable.
One of Japan’s largest group of active faults lies under the north side of the NPP and under the south side runs the Nankai trough which experts fear may cause a magnitude 9 earthquake. The operator of the plant, the Shikoku Electric Power Company, estimates the strength of future earthquakes would reach no more than 650 gal. Critics, however, argue that the utility deliberately ignores the latest scientific findings and underestimates the maximum magnitude of possible quakes.
As the Ikata plant sits at the base of a thin peninsula, a serious accident at the plant would make it extremely difficult for the 5,000 residents on the peninsula to be safely evacuated. Local residents are criticizing the NRA safety standards for not taking into account the viability of the evacuation plan in case of nuclear accidents in the first place.
In front of the NRA building in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, citizens held a rally to show their opposition to the approval of the draft report and to call for Japan’s departure from nuclear power. Holding placards reading “No nukes” “Reject the draft report”, the protesters shouted in unison, “No restart!” “Abandon nuclear reactors!”
Past related articles:
> NRA says Takahama NPP meets new safety standards [February 13, 2015]
> Citizens protest NRA’s approval of draft report confirming safety of Takahama NPP [December 18, 2014]
> NRA OKs restart of Sendai NPP in disregard of public concern [September 11, 2014]
> NRA’s draft approval for restart of Sendai NPP is unacceptable: JCP Kasai [July 17, 2014]
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