JP City To Sue To Stop Nuclear Plant Construction
Channel: rumorecurioso
Date: 2014-02-14

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/  

VOLUNTEERS ADVISE ON FUKUSHIMA EVACUEES' DAMAGES

A group of judicial experts sponsored a nationwide helpline to counsel evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear crisis on how to file compensation claims.

 An organization of judicial scriveners held the event on Tuesday at 20 locations, including Fukushima and Tokyo.

 The experts say there are still many evacuees who are not familiar with how to claim compensation from Tokyo Electric Power Company 3 years after the nuclear crisis.

 In Tokyo, 10 people answered telephone inquiries from victims. One of them asked whether an evacuee who lived near the nuclear plant at the time of the disaster could be compensated despite lacking a local residence registry.

 An expert answered that the person should be compensated and may be able to file a motion with a government-backed arbitrator that mediates settlements with the utility.

Feb. 11, 2014 - Updated 13:02 UTC

FIRE FORCED EVACUATION AT US NUCLEAR REPOSITORY
 
The US Energy Department says a truck fire forced an evacuation of workers at an underground nuclear waste repository site in the state of New Mexico on Wednesday.

 A truck hauling away salt caught fire at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad. Fire suppression systems and rescue teams were immediately activated. The blaze affected none of the radioactive waste.

 All of some 50 employees were evacuated from the site 660 meters underground. Some were treated for smoke inhalation and released.

 Energy Department officials said they were still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

 They said they found no noticeable change in monitoring of radioactive substances around the facility.

 The plant has been operating since 1999 as the country's first and only deep geological nuclear repository. It stores low-grade nuclear waste from federal nuclear weapons project sites including the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Feb. 6, 2014 - Updated 07:33 UTC

FUKUSHIMA OFFICIALS CALL FOR SWIFT COMPENSATION

A delegation from Fukushima Prefecture has asked the operator of the damaged nuclear power plant to swiftly compensate those affected by the 2011 accident.

 Vice Governor Fumio Murata and officials of municipalities and farming, business and other groups visited Tokyo Electric Power Company on Thursday.

 They handed in a written request to TEPCO President Naomi Hirose. It calls on the utility to pay compensation in an appropriate and swift manner.

 They made the request after a science ministry panel on damage claims compiled a set of new guidelines on additional compensation in December.

 Murata also asked for a compensation deadline extension for those who lost their jobs due to the accident. They include those who used to work in evacuation areas. The term expires in February.

 Hirose said TEPCO will announce within days what to do with the payment after March.

 Murata welcomed his response, but renewed his call on the utility to deal with the entire compensation issue with what he called sincerity.

Feb. 6, 2014 - Updated 11:10 UTC