TOKYO – An idyllic city on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan is embroiled in a heated debate about nuclear waste while its mayor intervenes in the structure of a garage despite opposition from the governor and surrounding cities.
Suttsu Mayor Haruo Kataoka said two weeks ago that he planned to involve the city in an initial investigation into the structure of a nuclear waste facility. Municipalities in the survey can obtain up to 2 billion yen ($18.8 million) from the national government.
“As long as we have nuclear reactors, we’ll have to get rid of the waste somewhere in Japan,” Kataoka said Wednesday, explaining his decision. Suttsu is about 50 km from Hokkaido Electric Power’s Tomari nuclear power plant.
The mayor has softened his rhetoric since the initial announcement, due to the refusal of the city council and industry groups. He said he would not take his final resolution in September as originally planned, but still sticks to the idea.
Meanwhile, Hokkaido’s governor, Naomichi Suzuki, temporarily mobilized his opponents. “Hokkaido is not intended to address nuclear waste,” he said on August 13, shortly after Kataoka’s announcement. “The national government is necessarily putting wads of money on us,” he also said on August 18, criticizing the supply of money.
Suzuki is particularly sensitive to the factor after last year, when it allowed a think tank to introduce new strategies for eliminating spent nuclear fuel to run until fiscal year 2028, 8 years longer than the original plan. Its resolution generated strong complaints despite promises that the center would not bring radioactive waste to Hokkaido.
Suzuki’s immediate action on the nuclear waste factor is noteworthy given that it passed seven months of construction consensus before deciding to invite a casino incorporated into the region.
Opinions are deeply divided on the ground. “I, from the mayor’s point of view, a city or town is going to have to deal with waste as long as we have nuclear reactors,” said a 50-year-old Suttsu resident.
“Hokkaido already owns the Tomari power plant,” said a woman in her 60s who lives in a nearby village. “It’s scary to think that nuclear waste is coming to Suttsu, but I can’t say I’m absolutely opposed.”
However, several teams from the local industry oppose the idea. In particular, fishermen are involved in a local nuclear facility that can tarnish the reputation of their catches.
Neighboring villages and villages also feel they can face all the dangers of nuclear waste disposal without any payment from the national government.
“I stood guard down through the reports and I don’t fully perceive what the mayor thinks,” said a local woman in his 30s. “I’ll see what I think after a citizen data consultation scheduled for next month.”
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