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Iitate, Japan: In an effort to minimize radiation levels throughout Japan’s northern Fukushima region after the catastrophic nuclear incident in 2011, officials removed layers of contaminated soil from extensive areas.
Now, as a new generation of farmers strives to revitalize a region once celebrated for its exquisite produce, authorities are grappling with what to do with the massive amount of soil—enough to fill over ten baseball stadiums.
Why was the soil removed?
The earthquake that struck on March 11, 2011, was Japan’s most powerful on record, sending a massive tsunami crashing into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, leading to a catastrophic meltdown. Soil extraction was part of extensive decontamination measures that involved high-pressure water jets being used on buildings and roads.
While most areas in Fukushima have gradually been deemed safe, many former residents are hesitant to return due to ongoing concerns about radiation or have settled in other locations entirely. However, new residents like 25-year-old kiwi farmer Takuya Haraguchi have begun to move into the area.
“I want people to understand what Fukushima is truly like these days,” he expressed to AFP.
Where is the soil being stored?
Approximately 14 million cubic meters of soil are currently being held at temporary storage facilities located near the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The government has assured the residents that a permanent storage solution will be established elsewhere in the country by 2045.
For the time being, the large mounds of soil are securely contained within guarded sites, layered with clean soil and artificial coverings to prevent runoff contaminating the environment.
What are the plans for the soil?
The government aims to repurpose the soil for construction projects, specifically for building road and railway embankments. They are committed to ensuring that this work takes place outside of Fukushima to limit the additional strain on the region, which previously supplied power to Tokyo and neighboring urban areas.
So far, there have been few willing partners in other regions of Japan, and some local officials speculate that a portion of the soil might remain in Fukushima itself. The prime minister’s office recently announced intentions to symbolically recycle some of the soil, intending to use it for flowerbeds to demonstrate its safety.
Is the soil safe?
According to the environmental ministry, around 75% of the stored soil has radiation levels equivalent to or lower than a yearly exposure to a single X-ray for those who might stand on or work with it. To hermetically seal the radioactive material, Akira Asakawa, a ministry official involved in the Fukushima soil initiative, recommends using asphalt, agricultural soil, or other materials.
Initial tests by the government involved constructing roads and fields using the contaminated soil as a fill material, which did not show increased levels of radiation, nor was there any runoff of radioactive substances to adjacent areas, Asakawa noted.
What criticism has been raised?
In 2022, there was significant backlash from local communities regarding the national government’s proposal to transport the Fukushima soil to a popular park in Tokyo and other nearby locations. That proposal has not advanced, and suitable alternative sites have yet to be confirmed, despite public empathy for Fukushima’s residents.
The environmental ministry plans to enhance its outreach efforts this year to better communicate the safety measures being implemented in relation to this plan.
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