Nuclear Power Local Governments Urge Swift Enactment of Special Law on High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal

Local governments hosting nuclear power plants have called for the enactment of a Special Act on the Management of High-Level Radioactive Waste.

On the 12th, Uljin County held the 32nd Administrative Council Meeting of Local Governments Hosting Nuclear Power Plants at the National Assembly Members' Office Building and decided to deliver a joint statement to the lawmakers who proposed the bill. The council included Uljin County, Gyeongju City, Gijang County, Ulju County, and Yeonggwang County.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

As the wet storage pools for spent nuclear fuel (high-level radioactive waste) within the nuclear power plant sites have reached capacity, the establishment of dry storage facilities and permanent disposal facilities is urgent. However, the Special Act on the Management of High-Level Radioactive Waste has yet to even be reviewed by the bill subcommittee.

The administrative council issued a joint statement calling for the enactment of the special law to prevent the permanentization of dry storage facilities and to establish a basis for local government support due to the installation of dry storage facilities.

Son Byung-bok, the mayor of Uljin County, stated, "To resolve nuclear power plant issues such as the management policy for high-level radioactive waste, it is important for the five local governments hosting nuclear power plants to respond jointly," adding, "We hope the Special Act on the Management of High-Level Radioactive Waste will be enacted as soon as possible to alleviate the concerns of local residents in nuclear power plant areas regarding spent nuclear fuel."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.