Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I do not have anything new to report, so let us start with your questions.

Q&As

REPORTER: I am Sato of the Asahi Shimbun. You reported a while ago that the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) mentioned that the water leak could be coming from the reactor containers. Meanwhile, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has also commented on damage to the pressure vessel. Although the two seem similar, since these explanations bear two very different implications, could you shed light on the facts of this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have only received a report indicating that the situation may be that there is water leaking from the containers. Of course, material that may originate from the fuel rods is also being emitted, so as anyone can image there is some degree of exchange of materials there. However, I have not received a concrete report at this point on the situation of the pressure vessel itself. If you would forward that inquiry to the NSC or the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), I think that they would be able to offer a report if they do in fact know something about it.

REPORTER: I am Koketsu from Jiji Press. If that is the case, then that means that there is the possibility that the pressure vessel of Unit 2 is also damaged, and also that the container is broken. Is that correct?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: What I am saying is that I have received a report on the containers from the NSC so I am able to comment on that, but I have not received any detailed report on the pressure vessel, so I think that if you forward such an inquiry to a more knowledgeable information source, such as NISA, that they will be able to report to you on the situation if they have any information.

REPORTER: I am Kuribayashi of the Yomiuri Shimbun. This question is in regards to the suspension of vegetable shipments. Just a little while ago, Governors from three North Kanto prefectures and the Governor of Tokyo visited appeared to have requested to Minister of Consumer Affairs Renho that the stops not be implemented so broadly on a prefectural basis but be limited to smaller, specific regions. At present, in view of the monitoring situation, do you think that such a detailed classification would be possible?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is an area that I believe I will need an expert evaluation on first. From a safety perspective and in consideration of the realistic problem of how precise monitoring can be carried out, a decision must be made based on the opinions of various experts. Of course, however, I believe that it would be better if we could limit the scope of such stops to certain districts if we can. Nevertheless, in the end this is a problem to which solid consideration must be paid in terms of safety and feasibility.

REPORTER: I am Yoshikawa from NHK. I would like to ask you a question about the provisional standard values of radioactive substances allowed for vegetables and other crops. One former member of NISA, which is the organization that created the indices that serve as the basis for these provisional levels, pointed out that the indices were created under the premise that radioactive substances would gradually decrease, and that there is the danger that safe levels of radiation exposure could be exceeded if one continues to be exposed to the maximum level stipulated by the criterion for a long period of time. Members of the Government have explained in the past that the figures are so low that continuing to eat the food products exceeding the provisional levels for the rest of one’s life would still not impact one’s health. Do these explanations not contradict each other?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am not directly aware of what that person’s intent was in making that comment, and I believe that, in terms of the specifics, by nature this is a question that should be forwarded to NISA for explanation by an expert. I have received an explanation on the standards created by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and I have also received a report that Japan’s provisional levels were set using that as a base. Please forward questions on the specifics to NISA.

REPORTER: Is it safe for people to continue eating food that contains the upper limit of radiation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: In regards to those values, I received a report that even if one continued to eat foods over the course of a year that contained the upper limit, it would still not pose a threat to that person’s health. I was told that the figure was extremely conservative in view of safety and that it is based on the standards set by the ICRP.

REPORTER: I am Koketsu from Jiji Press. Going back to my previous question, it is natural to believe that if water that has come into contact with melted fuel has leaked from the containers, the pressure vessel must be broken and leaking. What do you have to say about that?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe that an explanation from someone with expertise on the construction of nuclear reactors would be more accurate. Of course, the fuel rods are located inside of the pressure vessel, so it seems obvious that there is some form of water movement. However, the reason or mechanics behind such movement is really a question related to the construction of nuclear reactors, so I think that you would get a more precise response from a specialist.

REPORTER: Also, I have one more question that pertains to ventilation, and this made news this morning as well. I believe that you said at the morning press conference that ventilation began at 9:04 in the morning of March 12, but there is a gap, or difference, between the time you stated and that in the materials being released by NISA. To confirm, what exact time did ventilation begin? Also, why is there a discrepancy between your statement and the materials of NISA?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: What was reported to me was that the vents of Unit 1 began operation at 9:04 on Saturday, March 12 and that a pressure drop due to venting was observed at 14:30. These are the reports that I received. In that respect, I believe that there are two times due to the fact that one indicates when work began and the other represents the time when it was confirmed that air began being ventilated.

REPORTER: I am Kageyama of the Mainichi Shimbun. In response to this accident, more and more countries throughout the world are beginning to rethink nuclear power generation. The Basic Energy Plan passed by the Cabinet in June 2010 states that by 2020 nine new nuclear generation facilities are to be constructed and that by 2030 at least 14 more nuclear generation facilities are to be constructed. Does the Government still intend to carry out this plan despite the current accident?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: For now, the Government, and particularly those government officials with knowledge about nuclear power, are working in concert to address the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In that respect, after we have brought the current problem under control we will have to make serious verifications and considerations before coming to the point of making a major policy decision like the one that you have just mentioned.

REPORTER: I have one more question in relation to Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. There are plans to commence operations at Units 7 and 8 between 20:14 and 20:15. However, even before this accident, that start date had been extended more than 10 times. Do you think that Units 7 and 8 will start as currently planned?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I repeat, we are now doing everything we can to bring the current problem under control. The government and related individuals are combining all of their strength on nuclear power to address this issue. After that we will be able to advance discussion on overall nuclear power policy in consideration of verifications made about this accident.

REPORTER: I am Jojima of the Tokyo Shimbun. At this morning’s press conference, you said that at 22:00 on March 11, the day of the earthquake, NISA predicted the possibility of the fuel rods at Unit 2 becoming exposed and beginning to melt. And you noted that 44 minutes later, this information was shared with the Emergency Response Center of the Prime Minister’s Office. Under those circumstances, what were the reasons behind the decision for the Prime Minister to visit the afflicted areas?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: On the evening of the day that the earthquake occurred, the cooling systems of the nuclear power plant were not working very well. After we learned that it had evolved into this sort of incident, information came in through TEPCO and NISA. However, there was no clear information coming in about the situation in the afflicted areas. There was no way to gauge what the situation was like over there. And as I mentioned this morning, after 22:00, there were questions about when and how to start the ventilation and so on. Even if we said ventilation should proceed quickly, we did not receive a reply for some time. This was the situation we were in; here in Tokyo, we could not sufficiently gauge the situation of the afflicted areas. Under such circumstances, there was this strong sense that we had to find out what the situation was like in those areas, and in particular, establish clear and direct communication channels with the people in charge who were responding to the situation over there. Of course it was the Prime Minister himself who made the decision. I believe the Prime Minister went with those thoughts in mind.

REPORTER: So information about the situation in the afflicted areas was not coming in, and despite giving instructions to open the ventilation, no reply was coming back about what to do. With predictions being made about an extremely dangerous situation of a core meltdown and fuel rods being exposed, I believe another option was to proceed with crisis management at the Prime Minister’s Office. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister decided that it was better to visit the afflicted areas instead?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As you all know, with the incident involving the nuclear power plant, one wrong step and it’s over. Let me say I deeply regret that so many people in a wide area have been affected by the ongoing incident, but one wrong step could truly lead to even more disastrous consequences. With that in mind, I understand that the Prime Minister, who makes the final decision, felt he could not take responsible action when he himself could not get a full grasp of the situation in the areas.

REPORTER: I am Nanao of Niko Niko Douga. I have a question about assistance for victims. I’ve asked a similar question before. Regarding donations, normally the amount in full is distributed to a donations distribution committee comprised of the local authorities of the affected areas. However, this time, it is still not clear what the full scale of the damages is, which would form the basis for the distributions. Nor has a committee of local authorities even been launched yet, according to reports. With each delay, it will take that much longer for assistance to reach the victims. What are your thoughts on this issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Since these are donations, it is not a matter for which the government has authority to directly say do this or do that. I believe it is up to the relevant local authorities to discuss the benevolent wishes of the people amongst themselves, and to make an independent decision about their appropriate uses.

However, as you just mentioned, the damages are very widespread and this makes it all the more difficult to have discussions based on a clear understanding of the overall picture of the damages. There is no mistake about that. Therefore, the Government will make efforts to consult the relevant stakeholders to discuss the overall damage as soon as possible. At the same time, if the distribution of the donations to the victims is to be delayed, what can the Government do through various arrangements to provide minimum funds to cover their living expenses in the meantime? Various agencies are exploring a variety of methods, beginning with those which are most feasible. This is where we are right now.

REPORTER: I am Oda of Sankei Shimbun. My question concerns the reports of a high concentration of radioactive materials in puddles in Unit 2. Just how much of a delay is this discovery expected to cause? In addition, recently radiation levels around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant have been on the rise. To what extent has this delayed work, and is there even time to delay on the operations there?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: On the first point, I have already said in the past that I can make no predictions about what will happen, and that we will make every effort to handle the situation. I would definitely like to make an announcement on this once we are able to make a forecast with a certain level of accuracy ― I believe this would help those who have evacuated in particular to make plans about their lives going forward. Unfortunately, at the current point in time I can make no such forecasts. We will do everything we can to clean up the situation at the plant as quickly as possible.

As for whether there is time to delay at the power plant, at the very least, there is some time with regard to the reactor cores and spent fuel pools. We need to discuss over what timeframe we can maintain the cooling of the nuclear fuel with the method we are using right now. At the least, if we can continue cooling operations as we are now, we will be able to move to the next stage. And I believe that we can continue cooling operations for some time.

REPORTER: I am Koketsu of Jiji Press. Regarding the evacuated area around the power plant, I think that some time ago you stated that police will be dispatched from the rest of the country and stationed within an area 20km around the plant. What is the current state of this operation and other efforts to secure public order?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Since this is an evacuated area, the police and SDF have safeguard gear to protect themselves to enter the zone. Then, the police and SDF personnel in the zone are looking to make sure that no civilians remain there. In addition to having any remaining people evacuate, the police are ensuring that no crime is committed there during this crisis.

As for how many police have been dispatched to the area, I believe that from a security perspective it is better that I do not comment on this.

REPORTER: I am Kuribayashi of the Yomiuri Shimbun.

I would like to ask about the process of enforcing the Act Concerning Support for Reconstructing Livelihoods of Disaster Victims. During an appearance on television, Minister of State for Disaster Management Ryu Matsumoto stated that the Government was considering making the process of declaring individual houses “totally destroyed” in terms of the Act simpler by allowing all houses that are located in affected areas to be grouped together. Do you have anything to present on this at the current time?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have not yet been consulted about when the final decision on this will be made. I think it is obvious, considering the state of damage and current response situation, that the Government should move in the direction that Minister Matsumoto suggested.

CABINET PUBLIC RELATIONS SECRETARY: Any more questions?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Thank you for your attention.