Common Notion on Nuclear Safety

Miyazaki Branch of Fukuoka High Court dismissed an appeal of the residents around Sendai Nuclear Power Plant owned by Kyushu Electric Power Company to halt operation of nuclear reactors. The decision made a clear contrast with the sentence on Takahama Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui last month. Miyazaki recognized that Japanese society did not require zero-risk on nuclear power generation. Is it true?

Two reactors in Sendai Plant restarted its operation last year, after four-year intermission. They passed examination of Nuclear Regulation Authority in 2014, based on new security regulation with lessons from devastative explosion in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. It was the first resumption among all nuclear reactors in Japan after the unprecedented severe accident in Fukushima.

Presiding Judge of Miyazaki Branch, Tomoichiro Nishikawa, approved that the assessment of NRA for two reactors in Sendai Plant fulfilling safety requirement was appropriate. Although the risk of earthquake that exceeds anti-quake architecture would not be eliminated to zero, Nishikawa realized that NRA regulation included high standard with rationality. He concluded that requirement for absolute safety was not a common notion in Japanese society.

It was controversial that the decision introduced an idea of “common notion” in evaluation of safety standard of nuclear power plant. Some require perfect safety to nuclear power generation, because a nuclear accident causes unbearable damage on people’s life, the notion which every Japanese embraced five years ago. Others may demand cheap electricity, regardless the risk of nuclear disaster. There is no apparent common notion on it.

Judicial Branch of Japanese government proves by itself absent of common notion on nuclear safety. Otsu Regional Court concluded on Takahama Plant last month that passing new regulation would not bring social stability and ordered Kansai Electric Power Company stopping the reactors. It is obvious that Miyazaki and Otsu do not have a common notion on nuclear regulation.

Miyazaki Court also dismissed appeal for evacuation plan for the residents around Sendai Plant. “Although there are some inefficiencies on effectiveness of gradual evacuation or securing evacuation route, it does not mean absence of evacuation plan,” sentenced Nishikawa. Does having any evacuation plan guarantee safety for the people? Fear for possible eruption in volcanoes around was ignored. Decision in Miyazaki could not said as rooted on the idea of ordinary people.