http://www.foejapan.org/en/energy/doc/160427.html

Urgent Petition: “No” to the Policy “To Use Contaminated Soil (Less than 8,000 becquerel/kg) for Public Works”—
Don’t Contaminate the Environment, Don’t Force Radiation Exposure on the Entire Population

Sign Now!
https://www.change.org/p/minister-of-environment-tamayo-marukawa-contaminated-soil-produced-by-the-nuclear-disaster-to-be-used-for-public-works

Contaminated soil , produced by the nuclear disaster, to be used for public works !?

On March 30, the Ministry of Environment, Japan  (MOE) Investigative Committee on
Strategy for Technological Innovation for Reducing and
Recycling Temporality Stored Contaminated Soil decided to allow the use
of contaminated soil (lower than 8,000 becquerel/kg) for public works
nationwide with “proper containment measures.” The committee argues
that the additional effective dose for residents will be less than 10μ
Sv/year, but the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Act that specifies 100
becquerel/kg or less as the threshold for reusing concrete and metals
from nuclear power plants. MOE’s latest policy increases the threshold
eightyfold.

Moreover, the Working Group on Safety Evaluation of the Effects of
Radiation within the investigative committee met behind closed doors,
and its meeting minutes have not been published. In fact, the goal of
the committee is to increase an amount of radioactive waste for reuse in
order to decrease an amount for final disposal. The committee seems to
consider it inevitable to expose the entire Japanese population to
radiation to implement the infeasible policy of “decontamination and
repatriation” for Fukushima residents.

MOE boasts that “the reconstruction of Fukushima and the Tohoku region
not only constitutes a crucial project for the renewal of Japan but also
will become an unprecedented source of knowledge and experience to be
shared with international society.” But “proper containment measures”
is unrealistic. Even strictly managed disposal sites contaminate their
surroundings and groundwater; how can public works, which are not as
strictly as managed, prevent contaminated soil from spreading
radioactivity? Indeed, rainfall, erosion, and disasters can damage
public works to trigger a significant release of radioactivity in the
environment. Construction work will also expose laborers to
radioactivity. If a huge earthquake occurs, roads will be damaged,
exposing radioactive waste to the air. This is indeed a “national
project” to force radiation exposure on the entire Japanese population,
including children. We cannot, and will not, allow it.

Petition Items

1. Retract the policy to use decontaminated soil, which contains radioactive waste, for public works.
2. Rethink the goal of the policy to “decontaminate and repatriate.”
3. Enlist wider participation from people inside and outside Fukushima Prefecture in deciding on issues related to decontamination and disposal of decontaminated soil.
4. Disclose all information regarding the Working Group on Safety Evaluation of the Effects of Radiation, including the names of members, meeting minutes, and reference materials.

(Translated by Hiro Saito)

First round: April 30, 2016
Second round: May 15, 2016
Third round: May 31, 2016
Send your signature to: Friends of the Earth Japan
Address: 1-21-9 Komone, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-0037 JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-6909-5983    Fax: +81-3-6909-5986

Contact:
Friend of the Earth Japan
1-21-9 Komone, Itabashi, Tokyo
173-0037, Japan
Tel:+81-3-6909-5983 Fax:+81-3-6909-5986
http://www.foejapan.org/