The 7th Round of Working-Level Meeting on Safety Measures and Other Items Related to the USS George Washington

December 19, 2008
Japanese

On December 18 and 19, 2008, the Japanese and the U.S. sides exchanged their views in a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on safety measures and other items related to the USS George Washington, including the review of the Joint Drill which took place in Yokosuka on December 16.
Both sides reviewed the result of the Joint Drill. U.S. Navy participated in this Joint Drill as it did last year. This Joint Drill was conducted under the assumption that high temperature steam containing trace amounts of radioactivity with no harmful effect on human health or the environment spouted out indoors. One crewmember was injured with a broken leg. After reviewing the outcome of the Joint Drill, both sides agreed that the drill was conducted effectively in accordance with the set procedures. It was also agreed by the both sides that the drill was performed with accuracy and expedition, achieving all of the main objectives listed below.

(1) Communication and information among relevant people through the City of Yokosuka

(2) Notification to the workers inside the American nuclear aircraft-carrier and in the related shore facilities

(3) Public Affairs to the citizens and the press

(4) Joint Monitoring conducted by the Japanese and U.S. experts

(5) Transportation and medical treatment of the injured person

Both sides also shared the view to continue close cooperation with regard to the relevant items, based on communication and coordination in the City of Yokosuka, in order to ensure the smooth forward deployment of the USS George Washington which arrived in Yokosuka last September.

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　Participants in this meeting included Mr. Kazuhiro Suzuki, Director of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty Division of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from Cabinet Office, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Defense and the City of Yokosuka on the Japanese side, and on the U.S. side, represented by Mr. Jeffrey Avery, Senior Technical Representative for Foreign and Public Affairs, Naval Reactors, and Dr. Joe Gist, Senior Naval Reactors Representative (NRR), Yokosuka, and representatives from CNFJ, Submarine Group 7, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and the U.S. Embassy.

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