Friend A: Hey buddy, did you catch the news today?
Friend B: Nah, what's up?

A: Well, Japan's government decided something interesting about that soil from Fukushima. Remember the nuclear accident back in 2011?
B: Oh right! That disaster... what about it now?

A: They've collected a lot of soil since then, and they kept it in this big storage facility near Fukushima. Now, they want to use some of it for public works around the country!
B: Really? So, why can't they keep it there?

A: Well, by law, they need to get rid of it outside Fukushima by 2045. But, the government says that by using soil with lower radioactive content, they can reduce the total volume.
B: I see... So, where will they use this soil?

A: Sources say they might use it in flowerbeds and other places at government offices. They're gonna start trials in Fukushima to confirm safety first.
B: That sounds like a big step! How will people react to this?

A: The government wants to be more open about the necessity and safety of recycling the soil, especially since electricity from Fukushima Daiichi was used in Tokyo and nearby areas. They plan tours at the storage facility and sites where the soil is being reused.
B: That's a good idea! They also want to pick places for the final disposal, right?

A: Exactly! They're gonna compile a roadmap for the next five years or so by summer. They've faced opposition in the past, but this time they really want to gain public understanding.
B: That's gonna be tough, but I hope it works out for them and for Japan.

A: Me too! Let's see how it goes from here.
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Japan's government has decided to use soil removed during decontamination work near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.



The government on Tuesday compiled basic policy on the reuse and ultimate disposal of the soil outside Fukushima in a meeting with all Cabinet members present.



Large volumes of dirt and other material that has been collected during decontamination work following the 2011 accident have been kept at a vast intermediate storage facility straddling the towns of Okuma and Futaba in Fukushima Prefecture. This soil must be disposed outside the prefecture by March 2045 by law.
So the government plans to use soil with low radioactive content for public works and other projects across the country to reduce the total volume.



The Environment Ministry set standards and guidelines for the reuse of the soil in March and the government now intends to take the initiative in setting precedents to gain public understanding.



Excluding trials conducted in Fukushima to confirm safety, this would be the first time for the soil to be reused. Sources say it is assumed that the soil will be used in flowerbeds and other places at government offices.



The basic policy calls for communicating more information about the necessity and safety of recycling the soil, as electricity generated at Fukushima Daiichi was used in Tokyo and nearby prefectures.
It intends to promote tours of the intermediate storage facility and places where the soil is being reused. It also plans to take specific steps to select candidate sites for its final disposal.



A roadmap for roughly the next five years is to be compiled by around summer.



Previous attempts to reuse the soil outside Fukushima have stalled due to local opposition, and the government faces the challenge of gaining public understanding.