In a significant development, a special committee of the Genkai town assembly in Saga Prefecture recently gave its approval for the town to potentially host the final disposal site for nuclear waste. This decision marks a monumental step in Genkai’s history as it is home to a nuclear power plant that is now seeking to take on the additional responsibility of managing highly radioactive nuclear waste.
The next crucial step in this process is awaiting the full town assembly's vote, scheduled for April 26, where the decision will be further discussed and considered. If the full assembly approves the request, it will then be Mayor Shintaro Wakiyama's responsibility to formally make the request to the central government for Genkai to be included in the first stage of the selection process. This initial phase involves detailed examinations of the town's geological conditions and past records regarding natural disasters to assess the suitability of the area for hosting a nuclear waste disposal site.
Furthermore, if Mayor Wakiyama gives the go-ahead, Genkai will join the ranks of other municipalities in the selection process, with Hokkaido already having two participants. Advocates for Genkai’s involvement in hosting the disposal site, including local business groups and supportive assembly members, emphasized that it is a municipality's duty, especially one hosting a nuclear plant, to also take on the responsibility of managing the highly radioactive waste.