Publication of the IAEA Comprehensive Report on the Safety Review of the ALPS Treated Water at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS)

1. Following the Basic Policy announced by the Government of Japan on April 14, 2021, based on the Terms of Reference (TOR) on a comprehensive framework for reviewing safety related aspects of handling ALPS treated water at TEPCO’s FDNPS, which was signed on July 8, 2021, a series of review was conducted by the IAEA. On July 4, 2023, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi handed over the Comprehensive Report to Prime Minister Kishida and the report was published accordingly.


2. Executive Summary of the IAEA Comprehensive Report states the following conclusions;
   1. Based on its comprehensive assessment, the IAEA has concluded that the approach to the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, and the associated activities by TEPCO, NRA, and the Government of Japan, are consistent with relevant international safety standards.
   2. The IAEA has concluded, based on its comprehensive assessment, that the discharge of the ALPS treated water, as currently planned by TEPCO, will have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment.


3. With regard to the safety and the handling of ALPS treated water, reviews by the IAEA which is authorized under its Statue to establish and apply international safety standards in the field of nuclear energy are very important for ensuring confidence and transparency, and for promoting understanding in the international community. The Government of Japan will continue to provide necessary information and remains committed to making efforts to promote better understanding in the international community regarding the handling of ALPS treated water.

The Comprehensive Report

• "IAEA Finds Japan’s Plans to Release Treated Water into the Sea at Fukushima Consistent with International Safety Standards"
• IAEA COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE SAFETY REVIEW OF THE ALPS-TREATED WATER AT THE FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER STATION (PDF)

 

[Reference 1] ALPS treated water is water which is processed by devices such as ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System) to ensure that the concentration of the radioactive materials other than tritium surely meet the regulatory standards for safety. In addition, it is planned that ALPS treated water will then be sufficiently diluted before the discharges into the sea so that concentration of all radioactive materials including tritium will be far below the regulatory standards for safety.

[Reference 2] Previous published reports on IAEA’s Safety Review

• The 1st report (PDF) published on April 29, 2022, describes the details of IAEA’s review mission to METI and TEPCO conducted in February 2022, related to eight different technical areas, including the characterization of discharge and source term, the safety-related aspects of system and processes for controlling discharges, and the radiological environmental impact assessment.
• The 2nd report (PDF) published on June 16, 2022, describes the details of IAEA’s review mission to the Nuclear Regulation Authority conducted in March 2022, related to five technical topics, including the responsibilities and functions of the government, major principles and safety objectives, and authorization process.
• The 3rd report (PDF) published on December 29, 2022, describes the IAEA’s planned activities for the analysis and data corroboration of source monitoring of the ALPS treated water, environmental monitoring, and occupational radiation protection for workers at the FDNPS.
• The 4rd report (PDF) published on April 5, 2023, describes the details of IAEA’s review mission to METI and TEPCO conducted in November 2022, related to eight different technical areas, including the characterization of discharge and source term, the safety-related aspects of system and processes for controlling discharges, and the radiological environmental impact assessment.
• The 5th report (PDF) published on May 4, 2023, describes the details of IAEA’s review mission to the Nuclear Regulation Authority conducted in January 2023, related to the five technical topics, including the responsibilities and function of the government, major principles and safety objectives, and authorization process.
• The report “First Interlaboratory Comparison on the Determination of Radionuclides in ALPS Treated Water” (PDF) published on May 31, 2023, summarizes the results of an interlaboratory comparison (ILC) on the determination of radionuclides in ALPS treated water conducted under the IAEA’s safety review.