Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: Yesterday in the Prime Minister's press conference it was noted that all prefectures would receive a written request concerning the wide-area disposal of debris. What is the schedule for the procedures relating to debris disposal, including the requests themselves and the ministerial meeting with ministers concerned to be held on the issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Yesterday there seems to have been some misunderstanding in some of the press reports, which stated that new legislation would be formulated. The Act on Special Measures for Disaster Waste Management was passed last year and Article 6 of that act provides the basis for requests to be made to local governments for wide-area disposal of debris. On that basis, in the near term, as soon as possible, a ministerial meeting will be convened to decide on the formulation of these requests to local governments. As the matter is a pressing one, the Government also plans to send specific requests to local governments that have already indicated their willingness to accept debris, which will detail the specific content of the debris for wide-area disposal.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the disposal of debris, you have just stated that the Government will provide explanations to local residents. I think that this process could take time. However, the issue of debris disposal is one that needs to be expedited, so how do you intend to reconcile these two requirements?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Debris disposal plans are to be completed by the end of March 2014, which provides a period of two years. Out of a total of approximately 22 million tons of debris the Government is requesting cooperation for the wide-area disposal of more than 4 million tons and over the two-year period requests will be made and disposal operations will be implemented. The disposal operations will take place over this two-year period, so I believe there is a reasonable length of time.

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