Resolution for confirmation that nuclear power plants will not be reactivated unlesspractical evacuation plans are put in place
Shunichi Tanaka, the chair for the government’s Nuclear Power Regulatory
Committee explained that, “although there is no binding connection in law, a proper
evacuation plan, set up for the safety of local residents” must be a condition forreactivating nuclear power plants. “You can't have one without the other,”* hestated.
The nuclear power disaster response guide presented by the Nuclear Power
Regulatory Committee, requests the 135 municipals within the 30Km radius Urgent
Protective Zone to construct an evacuation plan. However, 40% of the municipals
have yet to do so.
What is more, from research conducted in March 2014 in the municipalities of“Mayors for a Nuclear Power Free Japan” signatories, it was clear that even inmunicipalities where such evacuation plans have been set up, they are “notnecessarily effective”. It was also apparent that the areas that have been
designated to receive evacuees are for different reasons, either still in the processof drafting or have not even started to draft a plan to receive evacuees.
In order to ensure safety, rigorous evacuation training and a practical and effective
evacuation plan applicable to situations of severe calamity are essential. However,even though implementation of a nuclear power disaster plan is necessary formunicipals in the UPZ, it is fundamentally impossible for municipals withpopulations of over 100,000 to construct an effective evacuation plan. Nuclear
power plants should therefore be immediately decommissioned in areas where it is
impossible for citizens to evacuate.
During a preparatory meeting of the National Energy Advisory Committee on April
22, the cabinet office administrator responsible for supporting local municipalities'
drafting of nuclear power disaster evacuation plans stated that he was “not fully
aware of the plans set up by the receiving side of evacuees.” If evacuation plansand plans for receiving evacuees are not drafted together, it is self-evident thatcarrying out the smooth evacuation of citizens becomes impossible. In spite of all
this, if the government administrator was indeed completely unaware of thereceiving sides plans, it begs the question if the government is really serious about
citizens' safety.
It is absolutely unacceptable to pass a decision to reactivate the nuclear reactors
while ignoring both the state of affairs in and the evacuation plans of municipalities
charged with receiving evacuees. These municipalities would receive evacuees not
only from municipalities in the area but from municipalities within the UPZ, too.
Moreover, nuclear power disasters, as we saw through the Fukushima power plant
accident, take place over an extended period of time. Due to this, drafting plans toaddress evacuees daily needs and to ensure their return to the original area arealso necessary.

As mayors of our communities, we are charged with the responsibility to protect thelives and property of our citizens. We therefore make a strong call to thegovernment to clarify its policy of “not permitting the reactivation of nuclear power
plants unless plans for evacuation, evacuee reception, evacuee life, and evacuee
return are drafted by all municipalities affected by the reactivation of nuclear power
plants.”26 April 2014
Mayors for a Nuclear Power Free Japan*24 October 2014 stated during a regular press release.