英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun September 21, 2013
Govt must take more active role in handling N-contaminated water
原発汚染水対策　政府は廃炉まで積極関与せよ（9月20日付・読売社説）

Resolving the problems at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s ruined Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is a process requiring as many as 30 to 40 years before plant’s reactors can be dismantled.
　東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故対応は、廃炉まで３０〜４０年もの取り組みになる。

During that time, the government must retain the ability to involve itself responsibly in resolving problems at the complex.
政府が責任を持って関与する体制を整えるべきだ。

Visiting the plant on Thursday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe inspected items such as tanks that leaked water contaminated with radioactive substance. He also gave workers words of encouragement.
　安倍首相は福島第一原発を訪れ、汚染水漏れを起こした貯蔵タンクなどを視察し、現場の職員を激励した。

Abe urged TEPCO management to push forward with cleaning up the tainted water by instituting deadlines for the task. He also called for the decommissioning of the Nos. 5 and 6 reactors, which have remained idle even though they did not suffer meltdowns or hydrogen explosions after the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
東電に対しては、期限を決めて汚染水の浄化を進めることや、停止している５、６号機の廃炉を要請した。

It seems Abe has taken the bull by the horns and resolved to beef up countermeasures against the vast amounts of tainted water. It is only natural and reasonable that, after the on-site inspections, he reiterated that the government “must take the lead and fulfill its responsibility” in tackling the crisis.
　汚染水対策を強化する姿勢を自ら示したと言える。視察後、首相が「国が前面に出て責任を果たしていかなければならない」と改めて述べたのも当然だ。

The government has decided to allocate about \47 billion to try to address the contaminated water problem. Its steady budgetary implementation is imperative.
　政府は、汚染水の対策費として約４７０億円の国費投入を決めている。着実な実施を求めたい。

Until now, the government has left the task of handling the crisis, including tainted water disposal, in TEPCO’s hands.
　政府は、汚染水対策など事故処理を東電にゆだねてきた。

There can be no denying that the government’s inaction slowed efforts to deal with the accident and ensuing turmoil.
政府が積極的に関与してこなかったことが、対応の遅れや混乱につながったのは間違いない。

The Liberal Democratic Party, for that matter, has begun considering enacting a special law to share responsibility for the clean up between the government and TEPCO and clarify a chain of command. Passage of such a law will provide the government with the mandate to extend fiscal support to end the crisis.
　自民党は、汚染水対策で国と東電の責任分担を定め、指揮系統を明確にする特別措置法の検討を始めた。特措法が制定されれば、財政支援する根拠にもなろう。

Just beginning of resolution

What is of high importance in this matter is that the special law should not be limited to countermeasures against contaminated water, but should cover the entire process of resolving the crisis.
　重要なのは、特措法を汚染水対策に限定せず、事故収束まで視野に入れた総合的な内容にすることだ。

The task of containing the tainted water is nothing more than the beginning of resolving the crisis.
汚染水の封じ込めは、事故収束への「入り口」に過ぎない。

Given the colossal expenses and manpower needed for reactor decommissioning, decontamination and related challenges, it would be unrealistic to leave everything to TEPCO. The system of extending assistance to the utility must be drastically revamped.
　廃炉や除染に巨額な費用がかかり、人材確保も必要になることを考えれば、東電にすべて任せるのは無理だ。支援体制を抜本的に見直す必要がある。

At the International Olympic Committee general meeting earlier this month in Buenos Aires, Abe said the tainted water problem at the plant “is under control.”
　首相は、ブエノスアイレスでの国際オリンピック委員会総会で、福島原発について「状況はコントロールされている」と語った。

In a bid to win the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the prime minister’s remark was based on the idea that contaminated water is limited to the port adjacent to the plant. After Thursday’s inspection, he said the message was intended to “assure the world that the situation is safe and secure and poses no risk to human health.”
　五輪招致にあたり、汚染水の影響は原発の港湾内にとどまっているとのメッセージだった。首相は原発視察後、「健康への被害はなく安心してもらいたいと世界に発信した」とも説明した。

The Democratic Party of Japan, for its part, has criticized the prime minister’s message, saying the current situation at the plant “is far from being under control.” However, the public will surely take such remarks as little more than frivolous objections.
　民主党は、コントロールされている状況とは程遠いなどと批判しているが、揚げ足取りと受け取られても仕方あるまい。

First of all, it was the DPJ administration that set the pattern of leaving crisis resolution to TEPCO.
　そもそも、東電任せの事故処理の枠組みを作ったのは民主党政権だ。

It has been brought to light that DPJ leader Banri Kaieda, while serving as economy, trade and industry minister two years ago, acknowledged TEPCO’s decision to postpone plans to install protective walls to prevent tainted water leaks at the Fukushima plant.
２年前、汚染水流出を防ぐ遮水壁の設置を先送りする東電の判断を、当時経済産業相だった海江田代表は容認していた。

The top priority for both the ruling and opposition camps should be to come up with better ways to resolve the issue.
　今優先すべきは、より良い対策となるよう与野党が知恵を絞ることである。

Discussions should be deepened between the ruling and opposition blocs about such issues as how the crisis should be addressed and how the burden should be shared between the government and TEPCO, through such venues as meetings during the Diet recess and deliberations in the extraordinary Diet session, which will be convened in mid-October.
国会の閉会中審査や、１０月中旬に始まる臨時国会の審議では、原発対応のあり方や、政府と東電の役割分担についても議論を深めてもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 20, 2013)
（2013年9月20日01時30分 読売新聞）