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Early Emergency Responses of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency against the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident in 2011

  • Okuno, Hiroshi (Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center, Sector of Nuclear Safety Research and Emergency Preparedness, Japan Atomic Energy Agency) ;
  • Sato, Sohei (Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center, Sector of Nuclear Safety Research and Emergency Preparedness, Japan Atomic Energy Agency) ;
  • Kawakami, Takeshi (Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center, Sector of Nuclear Safety Research and Emergency Preparedness, Japan Atomic Energy Agency) ;
  • Yamamoto, Kazuya (Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center, Sector of Nuclear Safety Research and Emergency Preparedness, Japan Atomic Energy Agency) ;
  • Tanaka, Tadao (Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center, Sector of Nuclear Safety Research and Emergency Preparedness, Japan Atomic Energy Agency)
  • Received : 2020.08.28
  • Accepted : 2021.02.19
  • Published : 2021.06.30

Abstract

Background: The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is specified in the Disaster Counter-measures Basic Act as a designated public corporation for dealing with nuclear disasters. Materials and Methods: The Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center (NEAT) was established in 2002 as the activity base providing technical assistance to both national and local governments during nuclear emergencies. The NEAT has a robust structure and utilities and special installations, and it organizes training and exercises. Results and Discussion: Due to an offshore earthquake that caused a devastating tsunami in March 2011, a nuclear accident occurred at the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The NEAT responded by conducting off-site environmental radiation monitoring and contamination screening, dispatching special vehicles, offering telephone consultations, and calculating the dispersion of radioactive materials. An examination of the emergency response activities revealed that the organization was prepared for these types of disasters and was able to plan long-term response. Conclusion: As a designated public corporation, the JAEA technically supports the national government, the Fukushima prefectural government, and the Ibaraki prefectural government, all of which responded to the off-site emergencies resulting from the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge all the JAEA staff members who were engaged in the early responses of the JAEA to the nuclear emergencies associated with the TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi NPS. The authors extend their appreciation to Dr. Kanamori and Mr. Katagiri, who were Director and Deputy Director of NEAT, respectively, and who led the responses of the JAEA in the emergency situation when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. The contributions of Mr. Muto and Mr. Watanabe in their notable commitment in their emergency responses in Fukushima Prefecture should be noted. The authors express their gratitude to Mr. Fukumoto and Mr. Kikuchi for their contributions in the logistics group of the NEAT. The authors thanks Ms. Nakanishi of Visible Information Center Inc., who was a staff member of NEAT at the time of Fukushima Daiichi NPS accident, for her permission to use WSPEEDI-II calculation diagram, which was cited as Fig. 6 in this paper. In preparing this paper, the first draft was checked by Mr. Usui of the former JAEA staff, to whom the authors mention his contribution.

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