Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have one item to report to you, concerning shipping restrictions. The Government has issued instructions to the governor of Fukushima Prefecture concerning the imposition of restrictions on the shipment of bamboo shoots and Matteuccia struthiopteris, commonly known as "ostrich fern," in certain areas of Fukushima Prefecture. The restrictions on the shipment of bamboo shoots are to be implemented in the cities of Date, Soma and Iwaki, the town of Miharu and the villages of Tenei and Hirata. Restrictions on the shipment of ostrich fern are to be implemented in the city of Fukushima and the town of Koori. For further details please direct your questions to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

Q&As

REPORTER: Yesterday Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sengoku appeared on an NHK program in which he stated that the Government would continue to maintain its policy on nuclear power. Could you tell us whether this was the personal opinion of Mr. Sengoku or is this an issue about which discussion has already begun within the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Basically the request made to suspend operations at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station was not one made as a consequence of an overall change in government policy on nuclear power. In that sense I believe that Mr. Sengoku's comments were meant to underline the fact that the current request does not imply that the basic policy on nuclear power has changed. Naturally, given the recent accident, discussions within the Government will be implemented on the basis of an investigation and inquiry into the causes of the accident, which is separate to the current request that has been issued.

REPORTER: Do you have any concerns about the fact that Chubu Electric Power has not yet decided on a response to the request made by Prime Minister Kan to halt operations at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is a very important issue for Chubu Electric Power and I believe that the company will require time to consider the request and analyze what the best course of action will be. However, as the request has been issued by the Prime Minister, I believe that on the basis of this request Chubu Electric Power will come to a final decision.

REPORTER: It seems that Chubu Electric Power intends to request the Government to provide assistance in the form of compensation if it responds to the request made by the Prime Minister. Is the Government considering any relief measures for Chubu Electric Power?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: No such specific request has been received from Chubu Electric Power and I think it would be preferable to refrain from answering a hypothetical question.

REPORTER: However, the halting of operations of a nuclear power station is likely to cause a significant burden for the power company. Is there a possibility that the Government will provide some sort of assistance?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Whatever the case, the Government will consider its position at such a time that Chubu Electric Power issues a request.

REPORTER: The president of Chubu Electric Power or other executives have not been seen yet at the Prime Minister's Office. Could you confirm whether the Prime Minister or you yourself have been in touch with Chubu Electric Power via telephone or other means?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Speaking for myself, I have not been in contact with Chubu Electric Power.

REPORTER: Are there any plans today to contact Chubu Electric Power?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: There are no such plans that I am aware of.

REPORTER: Up until now members of the Government, including yourself, have stated that it is Government policy to seek to provide compensation and support for all matters relating to the nuclear power station accident. The request to halt operations at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station would also seem to be a measure in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and it would therefore also make sense to consider some form of compensation for Chubu Electric Power. What are your views on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that the issue of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station is in a different dimension to the measures that I have spoken of to date. In the case of the accident at the nuclear power station in Fukushima, the Government will thoroughly implement compensation measures for all those who have been affected, including residents living in the nearby areas who have suffered losses. On the other hand, I believe that the question of what to do about the operation of other nuclear power stations from the perspective of public safety is an entirely different issue.

REPORTER: But is it not likely that the request to halt operations at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station would not have been made if the Great East Japan Earthquake had not happened?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: While there are aspects of cause and effect, I believe there is no proximate cause.

REPORTER: Following the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station all power companies implemented emergency safety measures at their facilities and the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) stated that there were "no problems" with these measures, including at Hamaoka. I believe that the stoppage of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station may have an effect on other power stations. What are your views?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe that both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry have already provided explanations and reports on this matter, but after considering that the location of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station is in an area where there is an extremely high probability of a large earthquake occurring, in view of the safety of the residents in the vicinity of the power station, the Government made a political judgment, in addition to the actual checks carried out by NISA.

REPORTER: If that is the case, can it be said that the safety measures at other nuclear power stations are sufficient?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: At the very least the current judgment was made on the basis of the special circumstances surrounding Hamaoka, in that it is located in a area where there is an extremely high probability of a large earthquake occurring. With regard to nuclear policy in general, consideration will be given through a zero-base review, based on the results of the investigation and inquiry into the recent accident.

REPORTER: The basic assumption for the compensation scheme to be implemented by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), is that the company will be required to engage in further restructuring measures. What is the content of such measures and what is their scale? Has there been a response from TEPCO at the current time regarding these restructuring measures that will be required?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Although the term "restructuring" has appeared in the media, I am not convinced that the expression "restructuring" is appropriate. It is my understanding that rather than "restructuring," what is required of TEPCO is that it firstly provides compensation to all the persons who have been affected, secondly that it continues to provide power, and thirdly that it makes every effort to bring the accident at Fukushima under control. The Government has a responsibility to ensure that a response to these three points is implemented. With regard to other matters, I believe that TEPCO's response will be based on an objective understanding of its liabilities accruing to the people affected by the accident, which are expected to be huge.

REPORTER: With regard to Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, you previously commented on television that "shutting down the nuclear station will not necessarily bring peace of mind." However, the Government has just called for a suspension of station operations. Since this is the first press conference you have held since that Friday, could you tell us how you evaluate this request from the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Although suspending station operations raises overall safety levels, the fact remains unchanged that we will have to continue implementing stringent safety measures with regard to the spent nuclear fuel in the station. At the very least, the construction of the sea walls alone will take two years. Since fuel rods do not cool and temperatures do not drop immediately after operations are suspended, I would say that the differences in risk immediately before and after suspending operations is not significant. Nevertheless, if the cooling procedures continue for one or two years after the station has been shut down, overall safety levels will improve that much more. At the very least, if we consider that the building of sea walls will take a number of years, I think that shutting down the station during this time will certainly be safer than not doing so. In that sense, I think the decision this time was somewhat natural.

REPORTER: With regard to the criteria for the resumption of operations at reactor No. 3 of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, until now, you have indicated that the opinions of the local residents and any new insights into the situation would be taken into consideration. Although the Government's call to halt operations at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station this time has naturally been well received in some quarters, others have expressed the opinion that the Government did not consult local residents beforehand. What is your response to this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It is not entirely true that the Government did not consult the residents. I understand that the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry sought the opinions of the Governor and the Mayor when he visited the area. Although there were no discussions to the effect of, "We are thinking of shutting down the stations. What do you think?" What I am saying is that consulting the local residents beforehand, or... how should I put it? When we considered whether we should lay it all out on the table and make a decision, considering that this is a matter of safety, at least, it would not be desirable, in many ways, to have had information on this leak out through unofficial channels since this is a very serious political decision that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry will have to bear the final responsibility for. I believe that is why the local residents were not informed beforehand that the Government would proceed in this manner. I think that this was unavoidable.

REPORTER: Sorry, but when you say "it would not be desirable to have had information on this leak out" - could you tell us more specifically what you mean by this? Do you mean it would create obstacles to shutting the station down?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that this decision impacts society in various ways. Thus, rather than having the announcement come from me, it was important that those making this political decision convey it clearly to the public. They also informed Chubu Electric Power and the respective local governments directly of their decision.

REPORTER: You mentioned the "respective local governments." Local governments have raised concerns stating that this will decrease the amount of related grants they receive. Does the Government intend to provide any allowances to make up for this decrease?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It seems there is a system whereby the disbanding of station operations to ensure safety in the event of a disaster or other factor is regarded in legal terms as being "normal operations" thereby allowing the surrounding area to continue to receive station-related grants. Although an actual disaster has not taken place, I believe that these provisions would be applied to this case in an appropriate manner.

REPORTER: At the press conference in which the Prime Minister announced his request to suspend the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, he seemed to be implying that measures should be taken to allow the station to withstand earthquakes in addition to tsunamis. On the other hand, in the document which Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Banri Kaieda submitted to Chubu Electric Power, the wording, "suspension until sufficient tsunami countermeasures are taken" is used. May I confirm, if Chubu Electric Power takes sufficient tsunami countermeasures - those which they have already announced, will the Government at that point then approve the restart of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station? Or will its resumption once again be subject to review taking into account damages caused by shakings from any earthquakes?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: At the very minimum, I believe to restart a nuclear power station that is stopped, we will have to once again carefully check at that point whether or not safety can be truly ensured.

REPORTER: Regarding the issue of topsoil at school grounds, cities such as Koriyama City have requested that the TEPCO collect the topsoil after it has been removed. In Fukushima City, the top layer and bottom layer of the soil have been switched. However, parents are still saying they do not feel reassured. On this issue of where to bring the soil, the discussion has become quite specific. At present, how does the Government intend to proceed with this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: With regards to school grounds, as I have repeatedly mentioned, we are by no means accepting the 20mSv limit or implying that there is a high likelihood that the 20mSv limit will be reached. However, as it is better to be closer to 1mSv as much as possible, the Government is studying various possibilities in consultation with the municipalities on a realistic method for addressing the issue of the soil at school grounds at an early stage.

REPORTER: What are your thoughts on where to bring the soil?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As I said, the Government is consulting and studying a variety of possibilities with the municipalities as to how to realistically bring the radiation dosage closer to 1mSv per year.

REPORTER: On a slightly different topic, regarding the Reconstruction Design Council, it has been reported that the Council Chair, Mr. Makoto Iokibe, has approached the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to seek its participation. Is this something that the Prime Minister's Office is seeking? Or was it something that Mr. Iokibe did based on his own judgment and does not reflect the will of the Prime Minister's Office?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Matters which concern the administration of the Reconstruction Design Council are left up to the Chair and the rest of the Council. We expect the Council to conduct independent and unrestricted discussion.

REPORTER: If Mr. Iokibe's action was based on his own judgment, how does the Government view the fact that he approached the LDP?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: No matter what, we have asked the Council to conduct independent and unrestricted discussion on its administration under the leadership of the Chair, and therefore, I am not in a position to comment.

REPORTER: Yesterday, Mr. Sengoku said that the rubble removal work is being considered under the direct authority of the Government. This is a little different from what you have been explaining to date. What exactly does it mean to carry out the rubble removal work under the direct authority of the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The work must be based on the wishes of the local communities. However, we are still not in a situation where we have received specific requests. We have, nevertheless, received general comments that there is indeed a limit to what local governments in particular can do. Therefore, I believe the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary was saying that the Government would like to do something to address this situation. If specific requests are directed to the Government, there is no doubt that the rubble must be removed somehow. If there is a request, we will explore specific methods in consultation with the municipalities that have made such requests.