Executive Summary of ITER Site Proposal
September 17, 2002
1. Technical Aspects
1.1 Land:
The candidate site in Iyasakadaira district of Rokkasho-mura has the following advantageous site characteristics which would exceed the site requirements.
- A stable subsoil widely extends with adequate thickness.
- 70 ha of the land will be provided free of rent to the ILE during the period necessary for construction, operation, and deactivation of ITER.
- The land is almost flat and square, and flexible layout of buildings and facilities will be possible.
- In the same district, an additional 70 ha of land is available for use, and future expansion of the site will be possible.
- Meteorological characteristics of the site are mild enough not to affect the planned construction and operation of ITER. Also the effects of natural disasters are expected to be negligible.
1.2 Electrical Power and Water Supply, Sewage
The site will provide flexibility and possibility of extensive operation.
- High voltage electrical power supply is possible from the Kamikita Transformer Substation near the site.
- Supply of cooling water sufficient for steady state long pulse operation of ITER is available.
1.3 Shipping and Transportation
The site has efficient characteristic of transportation.
- Mutsu-Ogawara Port accommodates docking of 5,000 ton (DWT) class ships and unloading of components as heavy as 1,000 tons.
- Transportation of the heavy and large components from the port to the site is possible via already existing roads.
1.4 Tritium Transportation
Experience and expertise of the tritium transportation has already been gained. Tritium transportation is possible within the existing framework of regulations.
1.5 Radioactive Wastes
The radioactive wastes from ITER will be treated and disposed of in accordance with the present practice.
1.6 Industrial Infrastructure
Japanese industries have internationally high level of standards and quality with excellent manufacturing capability. Considering on-going construction of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities by the Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited in the vicinity of the site, a sufficiently large pool of technically skilled workforce already exists in the area.
1.7 Scientific and Research Resources
- In the vicinity of the site, the following scientific and research resources exist:
- Rokkasho-mura: Institute for Environmental Sciences
- Hachinohe City: Hachinohe Institute of Technology
- Aomori City: Department of Engineering / Aomori University
- Hirosaki City: Faculty of Science and Engineering / Hiros aki University
- Mutsu City: JAERI Mutsu Establishment, Mutsu Institute for Oceanography of Japan Marine Science and Technology Center
- Fusion research and development in Japan is at the top level in the world, and there are a total of about 1000 researchers in JAERI, National Institute for Fusion Sciences and national universities which support ITER. Computational facilities and library systems of these institutions will be remote-accessed from the ITER site.
2. Socio-Cultural Aspects
2.1 Access
In the vicinity of the site, there are;
- Hachinohe Station of the Tohoku Shinkansen (Bullet Train) which is about 55 km from the site, is about 2 hours and 50 minutes from Tokyo Station.
- Misawa Airport: about 35 km from the site.
- Aomori Airport: about 70 km from the site.
Easy access to international flights at Narita Airport is guaranteed by the regular transfer service from Haneda Airport and Tokyo Station to Narita Airport.
2.2 Residential Environment
French and British engineers with their families (about 160) already reside in the area.
- In the neighbouring community of Misawa and Hachinohe, there are many rental properties available on the market.
- A new international residential community, "Lakeside Village" will be developed to provide a comfortable living environment with cultural and academic atmosphere.
- In Rokkasho-mura, various foods are available which will allow for the maintenance of a European, Russian or American diet.
- In the neighbouring town of Shimoda, there is one of the largest shopping malls in Japan.
- In Misawa City, there are groups of volunteers to serve as interpreters.
- Aomori Prefecture is planning to establish an international school starting from kindergarten to 12th grade in Rokkasho-mura.
- Clinics and hospitals where services are provided with English.
- Most clinics and dental clinics in Rokkasho-mura.
- Misawa Municipal Hospital: 220 beds, equipped with advanced medical diagnosis apparatus, covers most medical specialties.
- Towada municipal hospital: 479 beds, Hachinohe Civic Hospital: 609 beds, Hachinohe Red Cross hospital: 505 beds.
- Job opportunities for spouses
Job opportunities for the spouses of ITER participants will be created with hosting of ITER.
- Teaching positions in the planned international school will be available.
- An employment office to assist the spouses is planned.
3. Licensing Aspects
3.1 Basic concepts of ensuring safety of ITER have already been considered taking the feature of ITER into account, and concrete procedure of safety regulation is under consideration.
3.2 The major safety requirements are as follows;
- The objective is the prevention of radiation hazards from the public and workers,
- Appropriate radiation protection of workers and the public during the normal conditions,
- Prevention of accidents by, for example, ensuring the structural strength of the components that contain radioactive materials and their supporting structures,
- Mitigation of consequences of accidents by using the ventilation and clean-up systems etc.
3.3 The basic concepts of safety regulatory procedure of ITER is to regulate necessary items, scientifically and reasonably, in each stage of basic design, construction (detailed design and construction works), operation and decommissioning.
- Basic design stage regulation (plan)
After it is examined that safety requirements are fulfilled, the construction license will be issued.
- Construction stage regulation (plan)
Detailed design is reviewed and inspected. Relation of the commitment in the basic design and suitable design standard will be reviewed.
- Operation stage regulation (plan)
Suitable inspection, which based on the features of ITER, will be conducted.
- Regulation in Decommissioning Stage (plan)
After the end of the operation, the ILE will be confirmed that the facility will be appropriately decontaminated.
3.4 Structural technical codes, including codes and standards applied to ITER are under preparation.
4. Host/ILE Relation
The Japanese Government in association with the local governments (Aomori Prefecture and Rokkasho-mura) will specify the responsibilities both for the work to bring the site into the standard conditions, and for provision of the support and services to the ILE according to the Article of Host Support.
- Land: 70 ha of the land will be provided free of rent.
- Details of the proposed services: Housing, computer and library support, etc.
- Safety: Observance of the safety regulations in Japan, etc.
- Security: Observance of the regulations in Japan for the protection of the site and of the personnel and property thereon.
5. Financial Aspects
5.1 Operation Costs
The operation cost estimated in the ITER Final Design Report will be assumed.
5.2 ITER Waste
- The ITER waste will be properly processed and buried.
- Aomori Prefecture agreed to burial of low level radioactive materials.
- Preparatory work is under way by the Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited for construction of a burial facility for the high beta-gamma waste.
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