Development of Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas and Radiological Protection Measures Therefor
As radiation doses have decreased in some Restricted Areas, the national government published its policy in August 2016 to develop "reconstruction bases with the aim of lifting evacuation orders and permitting inhabitation in such areas within around five years in light of the status of decreases in radiation doses". In response, the Act on Special Measures for the Reconstruction and Revitalization of Fukushima was amended in May 2017 and the system for Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas was established thereby. Plans for reconstruction and revitalization that all municipalities (Futaba Town, Okuma Town, Namie Town, Tomioka Town, Iitate Village, and Katsurao Village) had formulated for Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas were approved by May 2018 and their development has been promoted.
In December 2018, as moves toward the lifting of evacuation orders for these municipalities had become active, the national government presented its policy to take radiological protection measures for Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas in two stages, a stage to prepare for returning and a stage to achieve the lifting of evacuation orders, with the aim of further accelerating efforts for lifting evacuation orders.
In a stage to prepare for returning, the national government will not only ensure steady management of individuals' doses and secure a consultation system, but also minutely obtain doses and other information and provide estimated exposure doses based on detailed dose maps and representative behavior patterns or otherwise take multi-layered measures in cooperation with local governments.
In a stage to achieve the lifting of evacuation orders, as residents spend more time and move around more widely than in the preparatory stage, the national government will take measures to reduce residents' exposure doses based on dose data and individuals' living conditions and risk communication measures to meticulously respond to residents' worries and anxieties, comprehensively and in a multi-layered manner in line with each local government's wishes, in addition to steadily managing individuals' doses and securing a consultation system.
- Included in this reference material on March 31, 2020