#Radiation in Japan: Osaka Decided on the Standard to Accept Disaster (Radioactive) Debris (Goodbye Kansai)

I have written about the dynamic duo of Osaka who are very eager to help those poor people in Tohoku buried under the mountains of disaster debris which happens to be radioactive.

Now, apparently without further interference from pesky citizens who try to stop them from bring the debris all the way to Osaka to be burned and buried, the committee of select experts have agreed on the safety standard to be used in accepting and processing the debris throughout Osaka, and the governor is to come up with the detailed guidelines by the year-end.

From Yomiuri Shinbun Kansai Version (12/15/2011):

震災がれき受け入れ安全基準まとめる…大阪府専門家会議

Osaka Prefecture Expert Committee decided on the safety standard to accept disaster debris

東日本大震災で発生したがれきや廃棄物について、大阪府の専門家会議は１４日、受け入れを前提とした安全基準をまとめた。松井一郎知事は「安全性が確保されれば、被災地復興に国を挙げて協力するべきだ」と前向きで、年内にも基準を踏まえ府の処理指針を定める考え。今後、府内市町村に理解を求めていくとみられる。

The expert committee of Osaka Prefecture decided on the safety standard to accept the disaster debris and waste from the March 11 earthquake/tsunami. Governor Ichiro Matsui is positive about accepting the debris, saying "As long as it is safe, the entire nation should cooperate so that the disaster-affected area will recover." The governor plans to establish the prefectural guidelines for processing the debris based on the safety standard [decided upon on December 14]. It is expected that the municipalities in Osaka will be asked to cooperate.

　放射線の専門家らによるこの日の会議では、受け入れ安全基準について、１キロあたりの放射性セシウムの測定値は１００ベクレル以下、埋め立て可能な焼却灰は国基準（同８０００ベクレル以下）より厳しい同２０００ベクレル以下が妥当とした。

The expert committee made up of radiation expert agreed as appropriate on the level of radioactive cesium in the debris at 100 becquerels/kg and less to accept the debris, and the level of radioactive cesium in the ashes after the debris is burned at 2000 becquerels/kg and less, stricter than the national standard of 8000 becquerels/kg and less.

　ただ、府が受け入れを決めても、焼却施設などを所有する市町村側が応じるかどうかは不透明。府には、受け入れに反対する府民らから約１万２０００件の意見が寄せられており、実現には曲折も予想される。

However, even if Osaka Prefecture decides to accept the debris, it is not clear whether the municipalities with incineration facilities will cooperate. The Osaka prefectural government has so far received about 12,000 messages from Osaka residents who are against accepting the debris, and it is possible that the debris acceptance may encounter complications.

Complications? I don't think so. There's nothing that these politicians cannot overcome with patience, when they see either fame or money. Just listen to the mayor of Daisen City in Akita Prefecture, who has decided to accept disaster radioactive debris. He said,

（住民が）『仕方がない』と言うところまで話し合う。

I will persuade the residents until they give up and say "OK, no other choice".

There you have it. They will keep at it until the residents become so weary that they simply give up. Worked every time in the past.

And never mind that their math is wrong; debris with 100 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium in the debris will become ashes with 3300 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium, exceeding the just-established Osaka limit of 2000 becquerels/kg. I guess they are not too worried about details.

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