Legal issues associated with the disposal of high level radioactive waste in Japan

A fundamental policy concerning high-level radioactive waste disposal in Japan is depicted in the ''Long-Term Program for Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy'' (revised by Atomic Energy Commission in June, 1987). Based on this program, the research and development of high-level radioactive waste is placed among nation's important concerns and working groups have been reporting on the procedures of research, development, and implementation for the future. Laws and ordinances governing the disposal of high-level radioactive waste ---the procedures from acquisition of the site, securing of the right, setting of a disposal site, to its maintenance and supervisory -- have yet to be framed. It is, therefore, necessary to establish regulations for each step of implementation regarding disposal such as operators, administrative procedures and management after the closure of disposal sites. In this report, I will consider some problems which we must solve regarding the legislation. (author)