Radioactive Debris: Tomakomai City in Hokkaido Says "Yes!" to Accepting and Burning

Goodbye Hokkaido. Goodbye Japan, on its time-tested path of self-destruction.

The Tomakomai City committee for safety unanimously voted down the petition asking the city not to accept the debris. What's next, residents?

From Tomakomai Minpo (12/8/2011):

苫小牧市議会の安全・安心のまちづくりに関する特別委員会（西野茂樹委員長）は８日開かれ、東日本大震災に伴う災害廃棄物（がれき）の受け入れの拒否を求める陳情を、全会一致で不採択とした。これで市に続き、市議会としてもがれき受け入れに協力する姿勢を鮮明にした形になった。

The special committee for safety and security of the Tomakomai City Assembly was held on December 8, and the committee voted down unanimously the petition not to accept the disaster debris from the March 11 earthquake/tsunami. The City Assembly thus made it clear that it supports the city government's willingness to accept the disaster debris.

　質疑では、陳情の趣旨が基準に関係なく受け入れ拒否を求めていることに、菊地一己副市長は「基本的に考え方は違うとの印象だ」と述べ、あくまでも市は安全安心を条件に受け入れる基本姿勢を強調した。

In the question and answer session, Vice Mayor Kazumi Kikuchi said about the petition that called for refusal of the debris regardless of the radiation standard, "Basically, my impression is that we have different ideas." He emphasized the city's position that it will accept the debris as long as it is safe and secure.

　理事者側は、環境省が広域処理のガイドライン（指針）で示した放射性セシウム濃度１キログラム当り１００ベクレル以下であれば、放射性物質として扱わないとする基準について「（放射能濃度が）全くゼロはあり得ない。最終的には１００ベクレルが廃棄物処理法の中でもあり、一つの基準になるのでは」と答弁した。

Board of directors [a panel of experts??] commented on the standard in the wide-area disposal guideline set by the Ministry of the Environment that if the density is 100 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium and below, it is not considered as radioactive material. "It is not possible to have zero radiation [in the debris]. Ultimately, 100 becquerels/kg [of radioactive cesium] could be used as one standard, since it is already specified in the waste disposal law."

　委員からは、１００ベクレル以下のがれきの焼却灰を埋め立てした時の影響に関する質問があった。理事者側は、苫小牧市内２カ所の焼却炉は飛灰と主灰が混ざって出てくる構造であることを説明。その上で「（ガイドラインの数値より）苫小牧では実際にはもう少し小さくなると考えている。埋め立て後の大気への影響はないと考える」と答え、基準内であれば大気への影響はないとの見解を示した。

The committee members asked about the effect on the environment when the ashes from the debris with 100 becquerels/kg or less of radioactive cesium are buried. Board of directors explained that the structure of the incinerators at two locations in Tomakomai City is such that the fly ash and the bottom ash are not separated. They added, "The level of radiation [of the ashes??] would be lower in Tomakomai. We don't think there will be any effect on the atmosphere after the ashes are buried" if the radiation standard is observed.

　焼却灰に係る懸念の検証について菊地副市長は「（がれきを）沼ノ端で燃やして実験することはできない。道が東京都に調査に行っている。結果を注視したい」と答え、東京都のデータを参考に判断する考えを示した。

As to the concern over [the radiation on] the ashes, Vice Mayor Kikuchi said, "We cannot experiment by burning (the debris) in Numanohata District [where they plan to burn the debris]. The Hokkaido government is sending officials to Tokyo to investigate. We will wait for the result", indicating the city will decide based on the data from Tokyo.

So, they really don't know how radioactive the debris is, their incinerators don't even separate fly ashes and bottom ashes, they think 100 becquerels/kg of radioactive cesium in the debris is safe.

100 becquerels/kg of cesium in the debris will result in 3300 becquerels/kg of cesium in the ashes. Hokkaido's contamination from the Fukushima accident is low to ND so far, and yet the officials who run the show think nothing of burying the ashes that have 3300 becquerels/kg of cesium. To help Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima. Right.

The adjacent city north of Tomakomai, Chitose City, is opposed to accepting disaster/radioactive debris. It doesn't matter much, does it, if the city right next to it is burning the debris?

Tweet