Energy News  
Japan court refuses to stop nuclear plant on quake fear

by Staff Writers
Tokyo (AFP) Oct 26, 2007
A Japanese court on Friday refused to shut down a nuclear power plant, rejecting a plea by residents who fear radiation if a major earthquake strikes.

An earthquake in July damaged the world's largest nuclear power plant northwest of Tokyo, which leaked tiny amounts of radiation and remains shut for inspections.

Residents near the separate Hamaoka nuclear power plant south of Tokyo filed a lawsuit demanding its suspension, noting that their region was at high risk for earthquakes and voicing fear that it would expose them to radiation.

But the Shizuoka District Court ruled that the plant, run by Chubu Electric Power Co., had sufficient safeguards.

"The plant has a quake-resistant structure based on carefully considered simulations of big earthquakes," Judge Akira Miyaoka said.

The plaintiffs pledged to appeal.

"This court decision ignores the danger of setting up and operating nuclear power plants in Japan, a country that experiences lots of quakes," said a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

"We'll never bend to this unfair ruling. We pledge to keep fighting until we get the suspension," he said, as seen in television footage which did not give his name.

Japan experiences about 20 percent of the world's major earthquakes.

The July 16 earthquake which damaged the giant Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant registered 6.8 on the Richter scale and killed 14 people, although none of the deaths were linked to the nuclear facility.

A team from the UN International Atomic Energy Agency inspected the plant and concluded that damage was limited and did not affect the reactors' safety.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
Civil Nuclear Energy Science, Technology and News
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Sarkozy announces nuclear cooperation with Morocco
Marrakesh, Morocco (AFP) Oct 24, 2007
French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced Tuesday that France and Morocco had decided to cooperate on civil nuclear energy.







  • High oil prices hit Chinese petrol stations
  • Learning The Lessons Of Oil Crises
  • The Race For Biofuels Driving Alternative Sources Of Biomass
  • Russia, EU To Create Energy Supply Early Warning System

  • US nudges India on nuclear deal
  • Japan court refuses to stop nuclear plant on quake fear
  • Russia To Develop New Uranium Deposit In East Siberia
  • Sarkozy announces nuclear cooperation with Morocco

  • Study Reveals Lakes A Major Source Of Prehistoric Methane
  • Giant Atmospheric Waves Over Iowa
  • Global warming driving up humidity levels, says study
  • Ocean Oxidation Preceded First Great Rise In Atmospheric Oxygen

  • Biodiversity said to be key to healthy forests: study
  • Chinese loggers stripping Myanmar's ancient forests
  • Greenpeace aims to expose Indonesian forest destruction
  • France to help rehabilitate burnt Greek farms, forests

  • Agricultural Soil Erosion Not Contributing To Global Warming
  • Global warming may be leading to higher rice yields in China: IRRI
  • Fake fins eye saving sharks, Chinese wallets
  • Fossilized Cashew Nuts Reveal Europe Was Important Route Between Africa And South America

  • Japan showcases cars that talk sense
  • VW restates record sales target on strong results from China, South America
  • Japanese cars premiere -- in real and virtual worlds
  • Honda plans low-cost hybrid in 2009

  • Airbus superjumbo makes first commercial flight
  • Airbus superjumbo takes off on first commercial flight
  • Solar Telescope Reaches 120,000 Feet On Jumbo-Jet-Sized Balloon
  • Third Maritime Surveillance System For Canada

  • Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2
  • Outside View: Nuclear future in space
  • Nuclear Power In Space
  • Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement