(UPDATED) (Now They Tell Us) Highly Radioactive Pieces Found in Naraha-Machi in June/July 2013 Came from #Fukushima I NPP, TEPCO Now Says

(UPDATE-2) Of all news outlets, it was Yomiuri who reported the news (two days late) and mentioned the last remaining potential route for the debris pieces - Reactor 3 explosion. From Yomiuri Shinbun (2/24/2014):

原子炉建屋の水素爆発で飛び散ったのか、海から流されてきたのかなど、理由は不明という。

The reason [why the debris pieces were there] is unknown; they could have been scattered by the hydrogen explosion in the reactor building, or they could have come from the ocean.

This news continues to be mostly ignored by both the mainstream media and the alternative net media. Very strange.

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(UPDATE 2/13/2014) The only news I've found so far about these debris pieces in Naraha-machi is from FNN local Fukushima news. Even that news hides the fact that the radioactivity of maximum 2.92 million becquerels of radioactive cesium IS PER 0.4 GRAM SAMPLE.

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Specifically, four small pieces of debris found at the river mouth in Naraha-machi 15 kilometers from the plant may have come from Reactor 3.

The first piece of debris were found in June 2013, but TEPCO didn't mention the discovery until July after three more such high-radiation pieces were found. Even then, they published a half-baked result of the analysis, which was nothing more than the measurement of gamma radiation and beta radiation in microsieverts per hour. (See my post on July 2, 2013 for the first discovery.)

TEPCO disclosed the result of the analysis of the debris done by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (of Monju fame) during the regular February 12, 2014 press conference, and no major news outlet has reported the news so far. Only bloggers took note. (I suppose the mainstream media is busy educating themselves on the intricacies of the State Secrecy Protection Law, even though it hasn't gone into effect yet.)

According to TEPCO, the pieces of debris were not only highly contaminated with radioactive materials released from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant but they actually, most likely came from the plant. The degree of contamination from radioactive materials found on the small pieces of debris is similar to that on the debris found around the Reactor 3 building.

From TEPCO's handout for the press, 2/12/2014 (in Japanese):

Very high contamination from cesium-134, cesium-137, and presence of cobalt-60 (in blue rectangle, added by me). Note the unit is Bq per sample, not kilogram. For example, Sample No.3 (0.4 gram) has 2.0 x 10^6 Bq, or 2 million becquerels of cesium-137:

Very high all-beta:

But the composition of radioactive materials (ratio) on the debris pieces shows almost all radioactivity comes from cesium-134 and cesium-137:

Radioactivity of the debris pieces, compared to those of the debris around the Reactor 3 building and of the soil in Naraha-machi and neighboring Hirono-machi. The debris pieces have about the same order of magnitude of contamination as the debris around Reactor 3 for cesium-137, and one to three orders of magnitude higher contamination for cobalt-60. Unit is Bq per gram:

What are the debris pieces made of? Polyethylene, polyolefine, wood:

TEPCO and JAEA's conclusion:

1. These small pieces of debris came from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, most likely from the Reactor 3 building.

2. The high-beta radiation found on the pieces are not from beta-nuclides but from beta radiation from cesium-134 and cesium-137, judging by the composition of the radioactivity.

3. How they got to the river mouth is unknown. It could be by the ocean, or by land. The analysis is inconclusive on that point.

As far as incurious TEPCO goes, this is the end of the analysis. There will be no further analysis whether there is any contribution from MOX fuel that was in the Reactor 3's Pressure Vessel.

During the press conference, TEPCO's PR people could barely answer the questions on this issue, other than to say this was done by JAEA.

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TEPCO to Return J-Village to #Fukushima Prefecture by 2018 for Use in Preparation for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

TEPCO's President Naomi Hirose says, "2020 Olympics seems like a good target."

J-Village, located in Naraha-machi about 20 kilometers south of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, has been used as the staging area for the emergency and restoration work at the plant since March 15, 2011. It was originally built as a non-monetary "donation" by TEPCO to Naraha-machi and Fukushima Prefecture to compensate for the "inconvenience" of having TEPCO's nuclear power plants, in line with the common practice in prefectures in Japan where nuclear power plants are located or being planned.

Naraha-machi was designated as "no-entry zone" around Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant until August 10, 2012. Since then, it has been designated as "areas in preparation for the lifting of evacuation order" - i.e. residents are allowed to return.

It was the ex-mayor of Naraha-machi who demanded that J-Village be "returned" so that the town could use it for the original purpose (soccer (football) training).

Optimism abounds in Fukushima and in Japan in general these days.

From Jiji Tsushin (1/8/2014):

福島のＪヴィレッジ、１８年返還＝東京五輪で活用目指す－東電社長

J-Village to be returned to Fukushima Prefecture in 2018 to be utilized for prep for Tokyo Olympics [in 2020], says TEPCO president

東京電力の広瀬直己社長は８日、福島県庁で佐藤雄平知事と会談し、福島第１原発事故対応の拠点を置いている運動施設、Ｊヴィレッジ（福島県楢葉町）について、「２０２０年の東京五輪は良い目標だ。１８年ごろまでに五輪に向けて活用できるようにしたい」と述べ、１８年ごろ県に返還することを目指す考えを示した。

TEPCO's president Naomi Hirose met with Governor Yuhei Sato on January 8 at the Fukushima prefectural government building, and indicated TEPCO will return J-Village (in Naraha-machi, Fukushima Prefecture) to Fukushima Prefecture. Hirose said, "Tokyo Olympics in 2020 is a good target. I would like to have it [J-Village] ready by 2018 to be utilized for the Olympic." J-Village has been used as the staging area for the work dealing with the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Ｊヴィレッジは、日本サッカー協会などが運営し、サッカー日本代表などの合宿に使われていたが、原発事故後は東電が利用。賠償や除染などを担う福島復興本社を置いている。

J-Village was operated by the Football Association of Japan and was used as a training camp for the national team. Since the nuclear accident, it has been used by TEPCO. It is where TEPCO's Fukushima Revitalization Company is located, which deals with compensations and decontamination.

J-Village, by the way, was one of the three locations where a small amount of plutonium-241 of Fukushima origin was found by the researchers at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS). The researchers measured the soil samples as early as April of 2011, and didn't tell the world until March 8, 2012. Half life of plutonium-241 is relatively short at 14 years, and it decays into americium-241 which is readily absorbed into legumes.

TEPCO's Japanese homepage showing the sign of Fukushima Revitalization Company at J-Village:

"Revitalization of Fukushima is our starting point," TEPCO says.

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Highly Radioactive Piece Emitting 3,400 Microsieverts/Hour (Beta/Gamma) Surface Radiation Found in Naraha-machi in #Fukushima During Decontamination Work to Return Residents

The town was designated as "no-entry" zone until August 10, 2012. The area where this tiny piece, with surface contamination of more than 100,000 cpm (meaning their survey meter went overscale), according to TEPCO, was found is currently designated as "Area preparing for the lifting of the evacuation order" (i.e. residents can return).

The 3 x 1.5 x 0.5 centimeter piece was found during the decontamination work being carried out by the national government.

Again, true to form for TEPCO/national government, the piece was found on June 20. The Ministry of the Environment asked TEPCO to analyze the piece on June 21. The piece was brought to Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant for analysis on July 1. Announcement of the finding was on July 2.

I suppose TEPCO was trying to find a suitable container to carry the piece, for 10 days.

From TEPCO's Photos and Videos, 7/2/2013:

(Click to enlarge)

TEPCO's document above says:

The piece was found on the riverbed of Ide River in Naraha-machi at the river mouth, by the Ministry of the Environment on June 20. The decontamination crew was conducting the survey of radiation levels prior to decontamination, and found a hot spot on the riverbed, and collected this piece.

Surface radiation levels:

Gamma: 105 microsieverts/hour
Beta and gamma: 3,400 microsieverts/hour

Radiation levels at 30 centimeters:

gamma: 23 microsieverts/hour
Beta and gamma: 26 microsieverts/hour

Surface contamination: exceeding 100,000 cpm

The river mouth of Ide River is about 15 kilometers from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant.

Devastation in Naraha-machi, to the Ide River river mouth, video taken on the day the "no-entry" zone designation was lifted on August 10, 2012:

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Japanese Government to Start Clearing Disaster Debris Inside 20-Km No-Entry Zone in Fukushima, Burn Debris If Cesium Is Less Than 100,000 Bq/kg

Kahoku Shinpo, a local paper in Fukushima, reports that the national government will build the first debris storage areas in Naraha-machi, which lies inside the 20-kilometer radius no-entry zone around Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, to store the disaster debris to be collected from inside the no-entry zone as the zone gets reorganized into three new zones.

All of Naraha-machi's no-entry zone will be newly designated as "zone preparing for the lifting of the evacuation order (避難指示解除準備区域)" which allows the residents to come back freely.

The government will (or hopes to, I should say) build an incinerator to burn the burnable debris in a nearby town of Hirono-machi, as long as the density of radioactive cesium on/in the debris is 100,000 becquerels/kg or less.

100,000 Bq/kg of cesium on the debris will be concentrated in the ashes, up to 33 times according to the Ministry of the Environment. I wonder if the Ministry has a plan for the disposal of bag filters, decommissioning the incinerator, and safety of the workers. (Just saying.)

Well we know the game. All that's needed is to dilute the highly contaminated debris by mixing with less contaminated debris or garbage from elsewhere. Or, since Naraha-machi is less contaminated inside the no-entry zone than some of the other municipalities, it will be ideal place to bring in the debris from other municipalities inside the no-entry zone and mix and match with that in Naraha-machi. And burn.

Goshi Hosono, Minister of the Environment, was seen speaking with the representatives of Naraha-machi yesterday. Naraha-machi is holding an election right now. Hosono is seen having done a hit job on Naraha-machi while the town's leadership is in transition. Same old, same old.

Consider this news as part of the Ministry's plan to let private businesses do the debris disposal inside the no-entry zone unless the debris is from the urgent infra-building projects, as this debris storage project will probably be up for bidding. Most likely, the big general construction companies already doing the government decontamination projects will win, who will then parcel out projects to subcontractors. Accountability will be clear as mud.

From Kahoku Shinpo (4/8/2012):

国、楢葉にがれき集積場　来月にも着工　警戒区域で初

National government to build debris storage areas in Naraha-machi, the first inside the no-entry zone; construction to begin next month

　東京電力福島第１原発事故で大部分が警戒区域となっている福島県楢葉町の沿岸部２カ所で、国が５月にも東日本大震災で発生したがれきを保管する集積場の整備を始めることが７日、分かった。震災から１年以上たっても警戒区域内の震災がれきはほとんど手付かずの状態で、同区域内で大規模ながれきの保管場所の整備は初めて。

It was revealed on April 7 that the national government will start building storage areas for the debris from March 11, 2011 disaster in May in two coastal locations in Naraha-machi, Fukushima Prefecture. Most of Naraha-machi is inside the no-entry zone. More than one year after the disaster, the disaster debris inside the no-entry zone hasn't been dealt with. It will be the first construction of large-scale debris storage areas inside the no-entry zone.

　環境省や楢葉町によると、すでに町内２カ所に計約２．５ヘクタールの用地を選定、土地所有者らと契約に向けた最終調整を進めている。来月にも着工し、夏以降、町内のがれき約２万５千トンを順次搬入する。今後、警戒区域の再編に伴い、本格化する町の復興に向けた作業の後押しになると期待される。

According to the Ministry of the Environment and Naraha-machi, total 2.5-hectare land has already been selected at 2 locations. Final negotiations are under way to sign the contracts with the land owners. The construction will start next month, and about 25,000 tonnes of debris in Naraha-machi will be brought to the storage areas starting summer. As the no-entry zone gets reorganized, the debris storage areas are expected to help expedite the projects for the recovery and rebuilding of the town.

　集積場に運び込まれたがれきは可燃物と不燃物に分別する。放射性セシウム濃度が１キログラム当たり１０万ベクレルを超えたがれきは、除染ごみを保管するため国が整備予定の中間貯蔵施設に持ち込む。

The debris collected at the storage areas will be separated into flammable and non-flammable debris. If the density of radioactive cesium on the debris exceeds 100,000 becquerels/kg, the debris will be transported to the intermediate storage facility that the national government plans to build [somewhere] to store the waste from decontamination.

　１０万ベクレル以下の場合、可燃物は国が広野町などに設置を目指している仮設焼却場での処理を検討。不燃物は管理型処分場での埋め立てなどを考えている。

If the density of radioactive cesium is 100,000 becquerels/kg or less and the debris is flammable, it will be burned at the temporary incineration plant that the government hopes to build in Hirono-machi and other locations. The non-flammable debris will be buried in the controlled landfill site.

　集積場は粉じんの飛散防止のための囲いを設置するほか、がれきの周りに土のうを積んで空間放射線量を低減させることも検討している。

The debris storage areas will be installed with fences to prevent the spread of dust. The government is also considering putting the sandbags around the debris to lower the air radiation levels.

　楢葉町の警戒区域は、全域が住民の立ち入りが自由となる「避難指示解除準備区域」に近く再編される見通し。住民帰還に向けてインフラ整備や家屋の解体作業が本格化する。町の担当者は「震災がれきの撤去が進めば農地の復旧も可能になる」と期待を寄せる。

All of the no-entry zone inside Naraha-machi will be reorganized into "zone preparing for the lifting of the evacuation order", which allows free access to the area by the residents. Work such as rebuilding the infrastructure and demolition of houses will start in full swing. The town officials are looking forward to the debris storage area. If the disaster debris gets cleared away, restoration of the farmland will be possible, they say.

　楢葉町を含む福島県沿岸部６市町の警戒区域内で、地震や津波による震災がれきは、推定で約４７万４千トンに上り、ほとんどが放置されたままになっている。

In the no-entry zone that covers 6 municipalities along the coast in Fukushima, including Naraha-machi, there are about 474,000 tonnes of debris from the earthquake and tsunami. Most of the debris are left untouched.

　環境省は楢葉町以外でも、警戒区域を抱える沿岸部の自治体で震災がれきの集積場の用地選定を急いでいる。

The Ministry of the Environment is selecting the locations in other municipalities along the coast with the no-entry zones for disaster debris storage.

I wonder who those landowners are.

Hirono-machi, where the national government wants to build an incinerator plant, is located south of Naraha-machi.

I find it amusing that the level of sophistication of the Ministry of the Environment is about the same as that of TEPCO at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant: fences and sandbags as safeguard.

Naraha-machi wants to boot out Fuku-I workers from J-Village which serves as the staging area for the work in Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant so that J-Village is restored as the training facility for soccer teams. Naraha-machi Mayor wants Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant to restart, so that his town could help the recovery of other municipalities in the no-entry zone. Mayor Kusano also wanted to build the final disposal site for highly radioactive waste from the nuclear fuel reprocessing in Rokkasho.

Municipalities that has the no-entry zone inside their cities and towns are: Minami Soma City, Namie-machi, Okuma-machi, Futaba-machi, Tomioka-machi, Naraha-machi, Kawauchi-mura, Hirono-machi, Katsuragi-mura, Tamura City.

While the concentric circles on which the Kan administration based their evacuation decision didn't make sense, it is also true that the most severe contamination fell on the area inside the 20-kilometer radius no-entry zone and the planned evacuation zone in Iitate-mura and Namie-machi. Naraha-machi fared better than most, if the MEXT map is to be believed.

From the Ministry of Education and Science (MEXT) map on May 6, 2011, cesium deposition (in Bq/square meters):

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Japanese Government to Abolish Evacuation Zone for Fukushima II (not I) by Year-End

The area within the 8-kilometer radius from Fukushima II (Daini) Nuclear Power Plant has been designated as "evacuation" zone following March 11 earthquake/tsunami and the residents have been evacuated. The Japanese government has decided to abolish that zone by the year-end, paving the way for the residents of Okuma-machi, Naraha-machi, Tomioka-machi, and Hirono-machi to return.

Never mind that Okuma, Naraha, Tomioka also happen to fall within the 20 kilometer-radius "no entry" zone for Fukushima I (Daiichi) Nuclear Power Plant.

From Fukushima Minyu, a local newspaper in Fukushima (12/14/2011):

経済産業省原子力安全・保安院は１３日、東京電力福島第２原発から８キロ圏内の広野、楢葉、富岡、大熊４町に措置している避難指示を解除する方針を関係市町村に伝えた。

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry told the municipalities within the 8-kilometer radius "evacuation" zone around Fukushima II (Daini) Nuclear Power Plant on December 13 that the evacuation order would be lifted shortly.

　関係者によると、政府は年内に福島第１原発から２０キロ圏内の警戒区域と計画的避難区域見直しの考え方を示すとみられる。ただ、警戒区域は、福島第２原発の避難指示区域と重なっていることから、警戒区域の見直しに先行して第２原発の避難指示を解除することで、見直しに向けた環境を整える考えとみられる。

According to the people involved, the national government is to indicate its thinking about how to redesign the "no-entry" zone within the 20-kilometer radius from Fukushima I Nuke Plant and the "planned evacuation" zone [between 20 and 30-kilometer radius] before the year-end. The "no-entry" zone for Fukushima I includes the evacuation zone for Fukushima II. By lifting the evacuation order for Fukushima II first, the government may be trying to create a favorable environment in which to revise the "no entry" zone for Fukushima I.

　警戒区域などの見直しについて政府は、福島第１原発事故収束の工程表ステップ２の完了を受けて実施する方針。年間の積算放射線量に応じて５０ミリシーベルト以上を「長期帰還困難」、２０～５０ミリシーベルト未満を「居住制限」、２０ミリシーベルト未満を「解除準備」の３区域に再編する方向で関係自治体と調整しているもようで、見直しの考え方について年内に明らかにする見通し。

Revision of the evacuation zones is to be carried out by the national government on the completion of the "step 2" of the roadmap to recovery of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. The plan seems to be that the no-entry zone will be reorganized into three different zones depending on the cumulative [external] radiation exposure levels per year. If the annual cumulative radiation exposure is to be 50 millisieverts and above, the areas will be designated as "difficult to return for a long time"; the areas between 20 and 50 millisieverts as "restricted residence", and the areas below 20 millisieverts as "preparing for return". The national government is said to have been discussing with the municipalities affected, and to disclose its thinking before the year-end.

To be more precise, in practical terms, on the "declaration" of the completion of the step 2, whether the so-called "step 2" has been achieved or not. As long as you declare.

According to Yomiuri Shinbun (12/15/2011) on the subject, a NISA official told the mayor of Tomioka-machi the reason for lifting the evacuation order as Fukushima II fully prepared for disaster with "external power source secured and emergency generators equipped".

The mayor of Naraha-machi has been itching to restart Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant and get "genpatsu (nuke plant)" money flowing again. He may get his wish soon.

When the national government talks about "radiation" in these areas, it is talking about external radiation only, and at 1 meter off the ground. The latest survey result (12/13/2011) by the Ministry of Education and Science is here.

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Mayor of Naraha-Machi Wants Fukushima II Back Online

Now that Fukushima I Nuke Plant went bust, Fukushima II is all we've got, says Mayor Takashi Kusano of Naraha-machi, Fukushima Prefecture where Fukushima II Nuke Plant is located. He says "We'd better get the best use of it."

Naraha-machi is located in Futaba-gun ("gun" is a bigger region), which has both Fukushima I and Fukushima II.

A brief interview with the mayor that appeared on News Post Seven (7/24/2011):

人口約7700人の福島県双葉郡楢葉町は福島第一原発の南側に位置し、周辺20km内の「警戒区域」にあたる。町内には、原発事故への対応拠点であるJヴィレッジや現在運転停止中の福島第二原発が立地する。町民たちは、県内のいわき市や大沼郡会津美里町での避難生活を余儀なくされている。だが、遠く離れたところから、口先で「脱原発」を叫ぶのは容易い。草野孝・町長（76歳）が切実な事情を語る。

Naraha-machi in Futaba-gun in Fukushima Prefecture, population 7,700, is located south of Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant and within the 20-kilometer no-entry zone. J-Village, the staging area for the power plant work, and Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant are located in town. The town's residents have been living in shelters in Iwaki City and Aizu Misato-machi in Onuma-gun. Mayor of the town is Takashi Kusano (aged 76), who thinks it is easy for people who are far away from a nuclear power plant to call for "no nukes".

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――都心などでは「脱原発」「反原発」を掲げるデモ行進も多い。

--In places like Tokyo, there are many demonstrations for "beyond nuke" and "no nuke".

「遠くにいて“脱原発”なんて言っている人、おかしいと思う。我々は必死に原発と共生して、もちろん我々もその恩恵でいい暮らしをした。だが同時に、東京の人たちに電気を送ってきたわけだ。何十年先の新しいエネルギーの話と、目の前の話は違う。あるものは早く動かして、不足のないように東京に送ればいい。我々地域の感情としてはそうなる」

"I don't understand anyone who says "beyond nuke" from a distance. We have tried our best to co-exist with the nuke plant, and yes of course we have benefited from it and have had a good life. At the same time, we've been sending electricity to people in Tokyo. New [alternative, renewable?] energy several decades in the future doesn't serve the need of today. What we have now [Fukushima II] we should operate, and send electricity to Tokyo. That's how we feel about it."

――とはいえ、第一原発であれだけの事故が起きた。第二原発についても不安は覚える。

--However, Fukushima I Nuke Plant caused such a big accident. People are fearful of Fukushima II also.

「もちろん、津波防御のための工事やチェックは必要だ。国がしっかりと第一原発の教訓を生かしていくべきところ。第二原発は崖と崖の間に位置していて、真っ平らなところにある第一原発とは地理条件が違う。今回の津波の被害も第一より軽微だった。

"Of course it is necessary to guard against tsunami. The national government should apply the lessons learned from Fukushima I. But Fukushima II is located between the cliffs, geographically different from Fukushima I which is on the flat land. Fukushima II wasn't affected by tsunami as much as Fukushima I.

　そうした違いがあるのに、“脱原発”ばかり。結局“復興”が二の次になってはいないか。双葉郡には、もう第二しかないんだ……。

So Fukushima II is different, but all we hear is "beyond nuke". "Recovery" comes the second. All that's left for Futaba-gun [his town is located within Futaba-gun] is Fukushima II.

　正確に放射線量を測り、住民が帰れるところから復興しないと、双葉郡はつぶれてしまう。第二が動けば、5000人からの雇用が出てくる。そうすれば、大熊町（第一原発の1～4号機が立地）の支援だってできる。

Futaba-gun will cease to exist unless the radiation level is accurately measured and the residents return where it's possible. If Fukushima II becomes operational again, that will create 5,000 jobs. Then we will be able to help out Okuma-machi (where Reactors 1-4 of Fukushima I Nuke Plant are located).

　それなのに、国も県も、何の情報も出さないし、相談もしてこない。新聞やテレビのニュースで初めて知ることばかり。町民の不満は限界に近づいている。言ってやりたいよ。“ばが（馬鹿）にすんのもいい加減にしろ”――と」

"But both the national government and Fukushima prefectural government don't give us information, they don't consult us. We learn things from newspapers and TV news. Frustration of the town's folks is reaching the limit. I wish I could say to the governments, "Stop taking us for fools!""

■聞き手／ジャーナリスト・小泉深

Interviewer: Shin Koizumi, journalist

I wonder if the mayor knows radioactive fallout from Fukushima I Nuke Plant has gone very far and affecting those people in the distance. I doubt it. But even if he does know, he would say that's just the price to pay for having received electricity from the nuke plant.

I also wonder if he thinks of other cities and towns within Fukushima Prefecture which may have even higher radiation level than his hometown thanks to Fukushima I Nuke Plant. They didn't have any say when Naraha-machi (Fukushima II) and Okuma-machi/Futaba-machi (Fukushima I) invited the TEPCO's nuke plants. Not that he should, but it would be nice if he at least thinks of his fellow Fukushima residents, while scoffing at people making the anti-nuke noise from a distance.

By the way, this same mayor wanted to invite Japan's first final processing plant for highly radioactive waste products from the Rokkasho reprocessing plant, back in 2009. Asahi Shinbun reported on March 15 in 2009 about the mayor's plan (no link to the original article at Asahi any more, but the full article has been copied at this site).

According to the article, just for applying as a candidate, the town would get 1 billion yen (US$12 million). If it is selected as the location for the final processing plant, total 160 billion yen (US$2 billion) in tax revenue and 1.7 trillion yen (US$22 billion) economic effects would be expected.

The town's revenue for 2007 was 6.1 billion yen (US$77 million), thanks to special tax revenue from Fukushima II Nuke Plant. Very rich for a town of 7,700 people.

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