The operator of the crippled, radiation-spewing Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is refusing to reimburse Japan for decontaminating land hit by radioactive fallout from the disaster site.

Under a special law passed in August, 2011, the Japanese government is responsible for that cleanup – The government can ask the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to pay the bill later. 

Tepco has paid A$72 Million; but Japan’s Environment Ministry is seeking a total of A$434 Million.  The problem is that TEPCO wishes to pay for decontamination only – but not for any supporting costs or Environment Industry public relations.

Meanwhile, the government’s Nuclear Regulation Agency is telling TEPCO that it is going to have to take unspecified “drastic steps” to control a spate of accidents at the plant.  Mechanical and human errors have led to a series of leaks of highly contaminated water used to cool the damaged reactors, into the Pacific Ocean. 

TEPCO is studying the buildings housing reactors 5 and 6, which were not damaged and have basements, to see if they can be used to temporarily store some of that radioactive water.