Decontamination and Demolition of Houses and other Buildings in Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas
For Restricted Areas, relevant municipalities formulated plans for Specified Reconstruction and Revitalization Base Areas (SRRBA) and environmental development (decontamination and development of infrastructure, etc.) in those areas based on the Act on Special Measures for the Reconstruction and Revitalization of Fukushima. After obtaining approval for the formulated plans from the Prime Minister, they are to make efforts to achieve the lifting of evacuation orders within five years.
The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) carried out decontamination work and the demolition of houses and other buildings in the SRRBA based on those plans. Evacuation orders were lifted for the SRRBA in Katsurao Village and Okuma Town in June 2022, in Futaba Town in August 2022,in Namie Town in March 2023, in Tomioka Town (Yonomori and Osuge Districts) in April 2023, in Iitate Village in May 2023, and in Tomioka Town (in Oragahama and Fukaya Districts) in November 2023. Evacuation orders were thus lifted for the entirety of the SRRBA.
At present, decontamination work has been completed for over 90%, and the demolition of houses and other buildings has been completed for approximately 84% out of the total number of applications (as of the end of November 2023). Specified waste from demolished houses and other buildings is to be disposed of after volume reduction for disposal at the controlled landfill site managed by the Futaba District Broader Municipality Association (Clean Center Futaba). In August 2019, the MOE, the Association and Fukushima Prefectural Government concluded the basic agreement thereon. In June 2023, transportation of specified waste was commenced.
For areas other than the SRRBA, the national government amended the Act on Special Measures for the Reconstruction and Revitalization of Fukushima in June 2023, under which a system was created to enable mayors of the municipalities containing Specified Areas under Evacuation Orders to establish the Specified Living Areas for Returnees (SLAR). In the SLAR, each municipality aims to achieve return of residents through lifting of evacuation orders and to assist returnees' reconstruction of livelihoods. With the aim of commencing pioneering decontamination work within FY2023, in September 2023, for some areas in Futaba Town and Okuma Town, Reconstruction and Revitalization Plans for the Specified Living Areas for Returnees were approved, and decontamination and demolition of houses and other buildings were commenced on December 20, 2023.
- Included in this reference material on March 31, 2021
- Updated on March 31, 2024