Photo/Illutration The library and folklore museum in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, undergoes demolition in May. A part of the image has been modified. (Nobuyuki Takiguchi)

Workers have stolen iron scraps from a demolition site near the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and illegally sold these potentially radioactive materials, sources said.

The demolition of Okuma town’s library and folklore museum, which lie within the “difficult-to-return zone,” was ordered by the Environment Ministry.

The area is tightly restricted due to high levels of radiation. Since waste materials from work within this zone may be contaminated, they must be handled and disposed of carefully.

The demolition of the partially two-story building with a total floor space of about 2,200 square meters was carried out by a joint venture of general contractor Kajima Corp. from Tokyo’s Minato Ward, and other companies.

The joint venture won the bid to complete the demolition for about 5 billion yen ($34 million).

Preliminary work began at the site in May last year, demolition began around February and the project was completed in July.

According to the Environment Ministry, on July 26, the joint venture called the ministry to report that workers had taken materials from the demolition site without permission and sold them.

The value of the stolen materials is estimated to be between 1 million and 2 million yen, according to sources.

There is no data on the radiation levels of the sold metal scraps, the sources said, and the destination of these metals is also unknown.

The ministry and contracting companies are consulting with the Fukushima prefectural police to determine how to handle the matter.

“We are currently responding to the matter based on discussions with the ministry and the police,” a Kajima official said, adding, “We will refrain from giving out details about specific cases.”

The president of a local company that is working under the contracted companies said, “We are looking into the matter with the ministry and the contracted companies.”

Under normal procedures, the radiation levels of all waste materials are measured. If the radiation levels exceed 100,000 becquerels per kilogram, the waste is sent to an interim storage facility.

If it falls below 100,000 becquerels, it is sent to a disposal site. And if below 100 becquerels, it can be reused.

If waste from the difficult-to-return zone is not disposed of in accordance with these procedures, that could violate the special measures law concerning the handling of radioactive materials.

Related News