The rationality of the designated evacuation zone and handling of the accident at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant in Japan

Abstract

The accident at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant in Japan on 11 March 2011 has led to widespread public exposure to high levels of radiation. At present, the government allows people to live in an area where the level of radiation is lower than 20 mSv/year. But, unless the level of radiation is reduced markedly to lower than 1 mSv/year, people should not be allowed to return to the area. Nevertheless, Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters removed the designation of ‘zones in preparation for emergency evacuation’ on 30 September with this fundamental problem yet to be solved. The paper examines the legal context for this problem.