On the 18th, the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency Hosts Regional Administrative Council of Metropolitan Cities and Provinces for Nuclear Power Plant Sites
Discussion on High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Plan and Local Participation in Nuclear
Meeting of the Administrative Council of Metropolitan Cities and Provinces with Nuclear Power Plants.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] On the 18th, Gyeongbuk Province held the "First Half of This Year Nuclear Power Plant Metropolitan City and Province Administrative Council" at the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, attended by more than 20 heads of nuclear power plant-related departments from cities and provinces.
The Nuclear Power Plant Metropolitan City and Province Council is a consultative body consisting of Busan, Ulsan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongbuk, where nuclear power plants are located. It holds two meetings annually, in the first and second halves of the year, rotating among local governments, with Gyeongbuk hosting this year.
This meeting, the first under the new government that adopted pro-nuclear power as a national agenda, decided to create and implement active action plans such as joint visits by cities and provinces to the National Assembly and central government ministries on adopted agenda items to amplify the voices of local governments reflecting the opinions of nuclear power plant area residents.
At this administrative council, discussions were held on agenda items including ▲high-level radioactive waste management plans ▲legal amendments related to local participation in nuclear power plant safety policies ▲proposal for the establishment of a comprehensive safety center for local government radiation disaster prevention ▲revision of guidelines on stockpiling, management, and pre-distribution of thyroid protective drugs.
Following this, the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency provided explanations on ▲basic policies for radioactive waste ▲disposal methods ▲transportation and disposal procedures, and conducted a tour of the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility.
Locally, concerns were raised that the "Second Basic Plan for High-Level Radioactive Waste Management," finalized in March this year, did not actively reflect realistic local opinions.
Since intermediate and permanent storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel have yet to be established, and the government plans to temporarily promote dry storage facilities within nuclear power plants, the council intends to actively demand the prompt enactment of related special laws, establishment of an independent administrative committee to resolve issues, and preparation of support measures such as taxation on spent nuclear fuel.
Additionally, there was strong agreement on the necessity of legal amendments related to local participation in nuclear power plant safety policies to guarantee authority to metropolitan governors, who are responsible for residents' safety, thereby decentralizing policy decision-making that is currently concentrated at the national level.
The agenda items derived from this administrative council will be proposed to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, and relevant standing committee members of the National Assembly.
Kang Seong-jo, Acting Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, said, "Under the government's nuclear phase-out policy, nuclear power plant areas have suffered from job losses and regional economic downturns. In line with the new government's policy of opening the era of decentralization, we will actively strive to ensure that local governments in nuclear power plant areas represent the voices of local sites, such as high-level radioactive waste disposal measures, and that these are reflected in government policies."
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