Progress of Decontamination Work

In the 11 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture designated as Special Decontamination Areas, the Ministry of the Environment conducted decontamination and whole area decontamination work was completed in all designated municipalities by the end of March 2017 (excluding Areas where Returning is Difficult). Decontamination was completed for approx. 22,000 housing sites, approx. 8,400 ha of farmland, approx. 5,800 ha of forests and approx. 1,400 ha of roads.

In municipalities where whole area decontamination work was completed, radiation monitoring after decontamination has been carried out for such purposes as confirming the maintenance of the effects of decontamination. As a result of such measures, evacuation orders were all lifted by April 1, 2017, for Habitation Restricted Areas and Preparation Areas for Lift of Evacuation Order except for Futaba and Okuma.

Each municipality in Intensive Contamination Survey Areas formulated a decontamination plan in light of the circumstances of the respective areas, priorities and feasibility, and has conducted decontamination work based thereon. As of the end of December 2017, decontamination work was underway in three cities in Fukushima Prefecture.

Additionally, it was confirmed that radiation doses decreased to below 0.23 μSv/h in 12 municipalities by the end of March 2017, and the designation as Intensive Contamination Survey Areas was removed for these 12 municipalities. Accordingly, the number of municipalities designated as Intensive Contamination Survey Areas decreased from 104 to 92.

• Included in this reference material on February 28, 2018