(Now They Tell Us) Minister of Reconstruction Tells #Fukushima Town Mayor, "Decontamination Has Its Limits"

From Asahi Shinbun (6/17/2012):

東京電力福島第一原発事故に伴う除染について、平野達男復興相は１７日、福島県浪江町の馬場有町長と同県二本松市で会談し、「除染技術の限界も明らかになった」とするモデル事業結果を伝えた。

Minister of Reconstruction Tatsuo Hirano met with Mayor of Namie-machi Tamotsu Baba on June 17 in Nihonmatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture and discussed the decontamination effort. Minister Hirano reported to Mayor Baba the result of the model decontamination that showed what decontamination could do and could not do.

それによると、２分半の道路の除染で空間放射線量が約３分の２まで下がるものの、以降はほとんど除染効果がなかった。住宅でも、屋根や壁の拭き取りなどで下がった割合は１９～６６％とばらつきがあることなどから「同じ除染を繰り返しても効果はそれほど期待できない」とした。平野氏は面会後、記者団に「除染ですぐにでも（年間放射線量が）１ミリシーベルトまで下がるという誤解を政府が与えていたかもしれない」と限界を認めた。

According to the result, by decontaminating a road [surface] for 2 and a half minutes the air radiation level would go down by one-third, but beyond that there was hardly any effect of decontamination. The reduction of radiation by wiping off the roofs and walls of a residence varied significantly, between 19 and 66 percent, and the conclusion was that "not much effect in reducing the radiation can be expected by repeating the same decontamination". After meeting with the Namie-machi Mayor, Mr. Hirano spoke with the press. He said, "Maybe the national government has given a wrong understanding [impression] that decontamination will instantly reduce (the annual cumulative radiation exposure) to less than 1 millisievert", admitting to the limit to what decontamination could do.

一方で、国が除染基本方針で掲げている「１ミリシーベルト以下を目指す」との長期目標は維持する方針だ。ただ、その工程については「新技術の研究をする」（平野氏）として具体的道筋は示さなかった。

On the other hand, the long-term goal of decontamination policy of the national government "to aim for 1 millisievert [per year] and below" [of radiation exposure of the general public] would be maintained, Hirano said. As to how to achieve the goal, however, he didn't specify other than to say "We will develop new technologies."

What decontamination by the national government has achieved, other than giving a lot of contracts and money to the large national general construction companies? Not much, a government minister has finally admitted.

So far, the high-tech Japan's tools for decontamination have been:

• high-pressure washer
• screw driver
• shovel
• broom and dustpan
• paper towel
• backhoe
• plastic bags
• blue tarp
• volunteers

New decon technologies? I think the most effective of all is "time".

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