Abstract
The off-site response at the accident was one of the key elements of the defence in depth described in the plant design. In Japan, off-site accident responses were based on the assumption of the 1999 JCO accident as the worst accident and nuclear disaster drills are annually implemented. However, off-site support for on-site severe accident measures was scarcely considered. In principle, when an accident occurs, the emergency organization outside the site must assume the role of the fourth stage of defence in depth: “to mitigate the consequences of the accident”. In other words, the off-site organization must offer human and material support for measures taken on-site to mitigate the consequences of the accident. Consequently, off-site accident responses by the Government Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters and relevant organs were extremely confused. This confusion was exacerbated by the breakdown in the information communication function, due to the impact of the complex disaster. At an early stage, the relevant teams could not communicate with each other at all, and coordination among them was not secured, which caused many problems. For example, during the evacuation, many residents requiring support became victims. Consequently, as the evacuation was conducted before a large emission of radioactive materials, the direct influence of radioactivity could be prevented. However, the core meltdown at Units 1–3 in the Fukushima Daiichi NPP could not be prevented; nor could the radioactive materials emitted from the nuclear power reactors be prevented from polluting the environment and having a profound impact on the society and economy. There were many lessons learned and problems to be solved.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
Articles 15–2 and 15–3 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness.
- 2.
Articles 15–8 and 15–9 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and “Off-Site Center no Arikata ni Kansuru Kihonntekina Kangaekata ni tsuite Torimatome” (The Overview of Basic Concepts of What Off-Site Center Should Be) the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, August 2012, the last line of p. 12 to the second line of p. 13 http://www.meti.go.jp/press/2012/08/20120831003/20120831003-3.pdf.
- 3.
According to a questionnaire survey by the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission, only 20 % or less of residents in five towns surrounding the nuclear power station knew about the occurrence of the accident before the evacuation order before 6:00 on March 12. (p. 356 of the Final Report by the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission).
- 4.
According to a questionnaire survey by the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission, 90 % of residents in Futaba, Okuma, and Tomioka towns knew the evacuation order was given three hours after the evacuation order for residents within a 10-km radius issued before 6:00 on March 12. (p. 358 of the Final Report by the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission).
References
UN Chernobyl Forum Expert Group “Environment”, Environmental Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident and Their Remediation: Twenty Years of Experience (IAEA, 2006), Austria, p. 71
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, The Radioactive Material Response Working Group in the Food Sanitation Subcommittee of the Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council report, “Shokuhin chu no Hoshasei Bussitsu ni kakawaru Kikaku Kijun no Settei ni tsuite (The Establishment of Standards and Criteria on Radioactive Materials in Food)” (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2011), Japan, p. 10
TEPCO, Fukushima Nuclear Accident Analysis Report (TEPCO, 2012), Japan
O. Kurihara, K. Kanai, T. Nakagawa et al., J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 50(2), 122–129 (2013)
Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA), Kinkyuji Hibaku Iryo no Chishiki (Knowledge of Radiation Exposure Medical Care in Emergencies) (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA), 2003), Japan
National Institute of Radiological Sciences, NIRS-M-252 (Proceedings: The 1st. NIRS Symposium on Reconstruction of Early Internal Dose in the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident) (2012)
National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Dai Ni Kai Kokusai Sinpojium Tokyo Denryoku Fukushima Daiichi Gensiryoku Hatudensho Jiko ni okeru Shoki Naibu Hibaku Senryo no Saikochiku (The Second International Symposium Reconstruction of Initial Internal Exposure Doses in TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident), Summary Collections (National Institute of Radiological Sciences, 2013), Japan
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Science and Technology, Dai Goji Kokuki Monitoring no Sokutei Kekka, and (2) Fukushima Daiichi Genshiryoku Hatsudensho kara 80 km Kengai no Kokuki Monitoring no Sokutei Kekka ni tsuite (The Fifth Airborne Monitoring Measurement Results and (2) Measurement Results of Airborne Monitoring beyond a 80 km Radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station) (2012)
IAEA, Environmental Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident and their Remediation: Twenty Years of Experience, STI/PUB/1239, (IAEA, 2006), Austria
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Science and Technology, Monbu Kagaku-sho niyoru, (1) Ganma-sen Hoshutsu Kakushu no Bunseki Kekka, oyobi (2) Strontium 89, 90 no Bunseki Kekka (Dai Niji Bunpu Jokyo Chosa) ni tsuite (Analytical Results of Gamma Ray Emitting Nuclides and (2) Analysis Results of Strontium-89 and Strontium-90 (the Second Distribution State Survey) by MEXT (2012)
Secretariat of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council (AFFRC), Nochi Dojo no Hoshasei Bussitsu Nodo Bunpu Map Kanren Chosa Kenkyu Hokokusho (Dai 3 Hen) (Research Study Report Related to Map of Radioactive Materials Concentration in Agricultural Soil) (Part 3) (2012)
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Fukushima Daiichi Genshiryoku Hatsudensho Jiko ni Matsuwaru Hinan Kuiki nado ni okeru Josen Jissho Gyomu Hokokusho (Report on Decontamination Validation Report in the Evacuation Zones related to the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station) (the Cabinet Office’s Commissioned Project) (2012)
N. Sato et al., A Test case of clean-up of a radioactivity-contaminated paddy field, 1; Entire scheme and outline of the field, 033, the 2012 autumn meeting of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ)
M. Saso et al., A Test case of clean-up of a radioactivity-contaminated paddy field, 2; Evaluation of radiation measurement and the contamination status, 034, the preliminary draft of the 2012 autumn meeting of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ)
T. Jintoku et al., A Test case of clean-up of a radioactivity-contaminated paddy field (3) Evaluation of rough stirring and the decontamination effects, 035, the preliminary draft of the 2012 Autumn meeting of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ)
Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Heisei 24 nendo Josen Gijutsu Hyoka nado Gyomu Hokokusho (the 2012 Report of Decontamination Technologies Evaluation) (2012)
Living Environment Division of Fukushima Prefecture, Heisei 23 nendo Fukushima ken Josen Gijutsu Jissho Jigyo Jicchi Shiken Kekka (the 2011 Results of Decontamination Technologies Demonstration Project Field Test in Fukushima pref.) (2012)
TEPCO, Fukushima Daiichi Genshiryoku Hatsudensho Jiko ni okeru Hoshasei Busshitsu no Taiki chu heno Hoshuturyo no Suitei ni tsuite (Estimated Radioactive Material Release into the Air in the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station) (TEPCO, 2012), Japan
IAEA, INES, The International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale – User’s Manual, 2008 Edition, (IAEA, 2009), Austria
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Tohoku Chiho Taiheiyo-oki Jishin niyoru Fukushima Daiichi Genshiryoku Hatsudensho oyobi Fukushima Daini Genshiryoku Hatsudensho no Jiko Trouble ni taisuru INES (Kokusai Genshiryoku Hoshasen Jisho Hyoka Shakudo) no Tekiyo ni tsuite (Application of INES (the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale) to the Accidents/Troubles at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station due to the Great East Japan Earthquake) (2011)
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Tohoku Chiho Taiheiyo-oki Jishin niyoru Fukushima Daiichi Genshiryoku Hatsudensho no Jiko Trouble ni taisuru INES (Kokusai Genshiryoku Hoshasen Jisho Hyoka Shakudo) no Tekiyo ni tsuite (Application of INES (the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale) to the Accidents/Troubles at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station due to the Great East Japan Earthquake) (2011)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Consortia
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Atomic Energy Society of Japan
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Atomic Energy Society of Japan. (2015). Off-Site Response. In: The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55160-7_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55160-7_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo
Print ISBN: 978-4-431-55159-1
Online ISBN: 978-4-431-55160-7
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)