Press Release

November 01, 2019
  • Waste & Recycling

The Inspection Results of Large Container Bags for Removed Soil in Temporary Storage Sites (TSS) after Heavy Rain by Typhoon Hagibis

The Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOE) checked the large container bags, which contain removed soil from off-site decontamination works derived from the accident of TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, to confirm whether those bags were carried away from Temporary Storage Sites (TSS) into rivers due to the heavy rain by Typhoon Hagibis. Findings as of 31st October are as follows:

Current Status of Removed Soil in TSS

Removed soil is stored in TSS until it is transported to Interim Storage Site. Total volume of the removed soil in TSS is as follows:

TSS managed by the MOE: 5.02 million m3 (as of the end of August 2019, 1 bag = 1 m3)

TSS and on-site storage managed by local municipalities: 5.35 million m3 (in Fukushima Prefecture as of the end of June 2019, outside Fukushima Prefecture as of the end of March 2019)

・ TSS managed by the MOE


All 236 TSS have been checked.

Iitate Village

The MOE found that 1 large container bag was carried away but the bag was retrieved on 15th October.

The MOE has conducted air dose rate monitoring as well as water quality monitoring, and confirmed that there has been no influence on the air dose rates and water quality.

  • Air dose rates at TSS and around the areas (8 spots) where the container bag was retrieved: 0.25-0.45μSv/h

  • Cs134 and Cs137 monitored at a river (2 spots): Not Detected (N.D.)

*Lower limit of detection: 1.6Bq/L (Cs134), 1.7Bq/L (Cs137)

*Note: "Lower limit of detection" depends on measuring equipment.

・ TSS managed by local municipalities

 All 716 TSS in Fukushima Prefecture and all 44 TSS outside Fukushima Prefecture have been checked.

Tamura City

A total of 30 bags were carried away. 21 bags were found at the downstream of a river nearby the site and were retrieved by 28th October. 8 of the 21 bags had no damage, 13 of them were assumed that the contents have been lost. The city and the MOE have conducted air dose rate monitoring as well as water quality monitoring, and confirmed that there has been no influence on air dose rates and water quality.

  • Air dose rates at TSS and around the areas (10 spots) where container bags were retrieved: 0.11-0.16μSv/h

  • Cs134 and Cs137 monitored at a river (5 spots): Not Detected (N.D.)

*Lower limit of detection: 6Bq/L (Cs134), 7Bq/L (Cs137)

Nihonmatsu City

15 bags were carried away. 8 of the 15 bags were found and retrieved by 24th October. The 8 bags were found empty. The city and the MOE have conducted air dose rate monitoring as well as water quality monitoring, and confirmed that there has been no influence on air dose rates and water quality.

  • Air dose rates at TSS and around the areas (6 spots) where container bags were retrieved: 0.08-0.14μSv/h

  • Cs134 and Cs137 monitored at a river (10 spots): Not Detected (N.D.)

*Lower limit of detection: 6Bq/L (Cs134), 7Bq/L (Cs137)

Kawauchi Village

44 bags were carried away. 20 bags of the 44 bags were found at the downstream of a river nearby the site and 19 of them were retrieved by 24th October. 16 of 19 bags had no damage and 3 bags were assumed that the contents have been lost. The village and the MOE have conducted air dose rate monitoring as well as water quality monitoring, and confirmed that there has been no influence on air dose rates and water quality.

  • Air dose rates at TSS and around the areas (12 spots) where container bags were retrieved: 0.18-0.31μSv/h

  • Cs134 and Cs137 monitored at a river (5 spots): Not Detected (N.D.)

*Lower limit of detection: 6Bq/L (Cs134), 7Bq/L (Cs137)

          Inspection Results of Large Container Bags in TSS

Name of Municipalities

Number of TSS

Estimated

number of container bags carried away

Already found

Not found

Already retrieved

Un- retrieved

Contents intact

Contents lost

Iitate

1

1

1

Tamura

1

30

8

13

9

Nihonmatsu

1

15

8

7

Kawauchi

1

44

16

3

1

24

Total

4

90

25

24

1

40

・On-site storage by local municipalities outside Fukushima Prefecture

Nasu Town (Tochigi Prefecture)

It was confirmed that 1 container bag at on-site storage* was carried away at Nasu Town. The bag was retrieved on 21st October at the downstream of a river nearby the site and found empty. The town has conducted air dose rate monitoring as well as water quality monitoring, and confirmed that there has been no influence on air dose rates and water quality.

  • Air dose rates at TSS and around the areas (10 spots) where the container bag was retrieved: 0.06-0.14μSv/h

  • Cs134 and Cs137 monitored at a river (3 spots): N.D.

*Lower limit of detection: 3~4Bq/L (Cs134), 4~6Bq/L (Cs137)

*On-site storage: to store the removed soil from off-site decontamination work such as at schools, parks, and houses.

The MOE has requested prefectures concerned to check if there is any similar cases at other on-site storage locations, and no further cases have been reported so far.

Further Response

  • As for the bags yet to be retrieved at Kawauchi Village, the village and the MOE will start collecting them soon after the water levels of rivers return to normal.
  • As for the undiscovered bags in Tamura City, Nihonmatsu City and Kawauchi Village, the MOE, in cooperation with related organizations such as Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, has conducted the search of downstream of rivers in the surrounding areas. Those local municipalities and the MOE will continue to search for those bags.
  • The MOE will continue to implement the air dose rate and water quality monitoring with relevant municipalities.

・Recurrence Prevention Measures

  • As for recurrence prevention measures, the MOE will construct fences around these TSS as emergency measures and transport large container bags as early as possible in cooperation with relevant municipalities.
  • Container bags at TSS under preparation for transportation to Interim Storage Site will be fixed with ropes and waterproof sheets for the time being to prevent the bags from being carried away.
  • To strengthen the management of TSS, the MOE will study and implement the measures as follows.

    • to review the causes of the matter in details
    • to check all the TSS after this review
    • to technically support TSS for additional necessary measures
    • to review a manual for maintenance and management of TSS

For Japanese

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