核ごみ文献調査 にじむ町長の熟慮［2024.5.10］

原子力発電所から出る高レベル放射性廃棄物（核のゴミ）の最終処分場選定に向けた「文献調査」を巡り、10日に佐賀県玄海町の脇山伸太郎町長が明らかにした結論は、町議会の意向に沿った「受諾」だった。これまでは受け入れに否定的な見解を繰り返してきた脇山町長。「町議会で請願が採択されたことは大変重い」。熟慮した上の決断だったことをにじませた。

■ 全員協議会は非公開

　「文献調査が処分地に直結するものではない。住民の皆さんはご心配があると思うが、なし崩し的に最終処分場になることはない」。午前11時半過ぎ、町議会全員協議会後に記者会見に臨んだ脇山町長は、受け入れに至った理由を淡々と説明する中でこう強調した。
　原発立地自治体としては初めての表明。これまでの町の取り組みを振り返り、「全国で議論が高まり、日本のどこかに最終処分場の適地が見つかる呼び水となれば」と述べた。町の財政状況も説明した上で「お金目的で受け入れるわけではない」とも語った。
　脇山町長の判断が注目された全員協議会は、報道陣や町民らの傍聴を禁止する異例の対応が取られた。
　通常は議長判断で非公開にしているが、今回は町民の関心事であるため、前日の早い段階では公開の準備が進められていた。しかし、その後、「混乱しないようにしたい」などの理由で非公開に転じたという。
　このため、議会棟入り口の自動ドアが閉鎖され、議会棟につながる役場内の階段前には立ち入りを制限するポールとバーが設置された。近くには職員が配置され、事情を知らずに訪れた人への対応に追われた。
　全員協議会は午前10時に始まり、10分ほどで終了。だが、脇山町長の記者会見が始まる午前11時半まで内容は明かされなかった。

■ 議会は推進の意志

玄海町議会は4月、賛成6、反対3で文献調査の受け入れを求める請願を採択し、強い推進の意志を示していた。賛成派の議員の多くは「処分場選定の議論が進まないことに一石を投じたい」と口をそろえる。
　国は2002年から、最終処分場の候補先を募ってきた。ただ、応募はわずかで、現在、文献調査に入っているのは北海道の2自治体のみだ。

請願の採択に賛成したある議員は、国が示すマップで町域の多くが「処分場に好ましくない特性があると推定される地域」に分類されていることや、文献調査以降の調査には知事の同意が必要になるなど、最終的な処分場建設には高いハードルがあることは十分に理解しているという。
　それでも、文献調査に手を挙げることが重要と考え、採択したことで「役割は果たした」と強調する。地域の分類についても「ほかの同様の地域が手を挙げやすくなる」と前向きに捉える。また、「国から交付される20億円は返上したらいい」とも話し、今回の採択が交付金が目当てではないことを強調している。

■反対派は抗議活動

　文献調査の受け入れに反対する住民らは抗議の声を上げた。議会棟前には、文献調査受け入れに反対する団体のメンバーら10人ほどが集まり、「社会的合意形成未熟」などと書かれたのぼり旗を掲げた。正面玄関は締め切られ、議員らは裏側の出入り口から入った。
　佐賀市在住で、「玄海原発プルサーマルと全基をみんなで止める裁判の会」代表の石丸初美さん（72）は「民意を無視したやり方に憤りを感じる。（文献調査の次の）概要調査には進まないよう声を上げ続ける」と語った。

■町の大半「好ましくない特性」

　最終処分場にふさわしい特性を有しているのかどうかを示すため、国が2017年に公表した「科学的特性マップ」では、好ましくないのか、好ましいのかについて、全国を四つの色で塗り分けている。

資源エネルギー庁によると、玄海町の大半は「好ましくない特性があると推定される」地域で、石炭や石油などの鉱物資源の埋蔵地で将来の掘削の可能性がある地域（シルバー）に分類されている。請願を審議した玄海町議会原子力対策特別委員会でも、このマップをどう捉えるべきかが議論になった。
　同庁は、マップは全国規模のデータに基づいた分類のため、「特性を確定的に示すものではなく、地域の詳細な様子は明らかになっていない」と説明。鉱物資源の埋蔵状況について、詳細な調査内容をまとめた地域の資料などを調べる文献調査の実施は可能だとしている。

■英訳

Regarding the "literature survey" for selecting a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste (nuclear waste) from nuclear power plants, Genkai Town Mayor Shintaro Wakiyama revealed on the 10th that the conclusion was in line with the town council's inclination, which was "acceptance." Wakiyama, who had previously repeated a negative view on acceptance, stated, "The fact that the petition was adopted by the town council is very weighty." He hinted that it was a decision made after careful consideration.

■ Closed meeting of all members council

"The literature survey does not directly lead to the disposal site. I understand that residents may be concerned, but there will be no gradual process to make it a final disposal site." At around 11:30 a.m., Mayor Wakiyama, who held a press conference after the town council's all-members council meeting, emphasized this while explaining the reasons for acceptance in a straightforward manner.
This was the town's first statement as a nuclear power plant hosting municipality. Reflecting on the town's past efforts, he stated, "If it becomes a catalyst for finding a suitable site for the final disposal facility somewhere in Japan as discussions intensify nationwide,..." He also explained the town's financial situation and stated, "We are not accepting it for monetary reasons."
The all-members council meeting, which attracted attention to Mayor Wakiyama's decision, took the unusual step of prohibiting the press and residents from attending as observers.
Normally, it is at the discretion of the chairman to close the meeting, but this time, it was initially prepared for open viewing as it was a matter of interest to residents. However, it was later switched to a closed session for reasons such as "wanting to avoid confusion."

As a result, the automatic doors at the entrance of the council building were closed, and poles and bars restricting entry were installed in front of the staircase leading to the council building inside the town hall. Employees were stationed nearby and were busy dealing with people who arrived without knowing the situation.
The all-members council meeting started at 10 a.m. and ended in about 10 minutes. However, the content was not disclosed until Mayor Wakiyama's press conference began at 11:30 a.m.

■ The council expresses its willingness to promote

In April, the Genkai Town Council adopted a petition demanding acceptance of the literature survey by a vote of 6 in favor and 3 against, indicating a strong desire to promote it. Many of the supporters stated that they wanted to contribute to the advancement of the discussion on the selection of the disposal site.
Since 2002, the government has been soliciting candidate sites for the final disposal facility. However, the number of applications has been minimal, and currently, only two municipalities in Hokkaido are undergoing literature surveys.

A council member who voted in favor of the petition stated that they fully understood that there are high hurdles to actual construction of the final disposal site, such as most of the town area being classified as "areas where characteristics unfavorable for disposal sites are presumed" on the map provided by the government, and that governor's consent is required for surveys after the literature survey.
Nevertheless, they emphasized that raising their hand for the literature survey was important, and by adopting it, they had "fulfilled their role." They also positively viewed the classification of the region, saying that "other similar regions are more likely to raise their hands." Additionally, they mentioned, "It's okay to return the 2 billion yen granted by the government," emphasizing that the adoption this time was not for the sake of subsidies.

■ Opposition groups engage in protest activities

Residents who oppose the acceptance of the literature survey voiced their protests. In front of the council building, about 10 members of a group opposing the acceptance of the literature survey gathered, holding up banners stating "Social consensus formation is immature" and the like. The main entrance was closed, and council members entered through the back entrance.
Shomi Ishimaru (72), who resides in Saga City and is the representative of the "Group to Stop Genkai Nuclear Power Plant Pluthermal and All Bases through Trials Together," said, "I feel angry at the way they ignored the public opinion. We will continue to raise our voices to prevent the progression to the next step, the overview survey."

■ Most of the town has "unfavorable characteristics"

To indicate whether an area is suitable for the final disposal facility, the government divided the country into four colors in the "Scientific Characteristics Map" announced in 2017, indicating whether the area has favorable or unfavorable characteristics.

According to the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, most of Genkai Town is classified as an area with "presumed unfavorable characteristics," categorized as areas with the potential for future excavation of mineral resources such as coal and oil (silver). The Genkai Town Council's Special Committee on Nuclear Power Countermeasures, which deliberated on the petition, also discussed how to interpret this map.
The agency explains that since the map is based on nationwide data, it is not definitive in indicating characteristics, and the detailed situation of each region is not clear. The agency states that it is possible to conduct literature surveys by examining detailed survey contents such as materials summarizing the state of mineral resource deposits in the region.

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