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NEWS

Japan deals with nuclear waste

Farmer Keiko Kikukawa stands in her field on Nov. 7 in Rokkasho village, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The village is the home of a high-tech facility being built to convert spent nuclear fuel to feed Japan's next generation of reactors.
Farmer Keiko Kikukawa stands in her field on Nov. 7 in Rokkasho village, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The village is the home of a high-tech facility being built to convert spent nuclear fuel to feed Japan's next generation of reactors.
Koji Sasahara, AP
Workers build a recyclable fuel storage center on Nov. 9 in Mutsu, near Rokkasho. The new facility, expected to open in October 2014, can store up to 5,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel.
Workers build a recyclable fuel storage center on Nov. 9 in Mutsu, near Rokkasho. The new facility, expected to open in October 2014, can store up to 5,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel.
Koji Sasahara, AP
Rokkasho village Mayor Kenji Furukawa speaks in his office on Nov. 8. Furukawa said his village of 11,000 people needs the Rokkasho facility because the plant, its affiliates and related businesses provide most of the jobs. "Without the plant, this is going to be a marginal place," Furukawa said.
Rokkasho village Mayor Kenji Furukawa speaks in his office on Nov. 8. Furukawa said his village of 11,000 people needs the Rokkasho facility because the plant, its affiliates and related businesses provide most of the jobs. "Without the plant, this is going to be a marginal place," Furukawa said.
Koji Sasahara, AP
Cranes tower above a new nuclear power plant in Oma, Japan. Construction will resume on the advanced reactor that can use more plutonium than conventional reactors. Building began in 2008 but has been suspended since the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdowns.
Cranes tower above a new nuclear power plant in Oma, Japan. Construction will resume on the advanced reactor that can use more plutonium than conventional reactors. Building began in 2008 but has been suspended since the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdowns.
Koji Sasahara, AP
The Rokkasho spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant facilities in Rokkasho village. Construction at the reprocessing plant began in 1993 and has cost $27 billion so far. The plant's operational cost through 2060 would be $500 billion, according to a recent government estimate.
The Rokkasho spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant facilities in Rokkasho village. Construction at the reprocessing plant began in 1993 and has cost $27 billion so far. The plant's operational cost through 2060 would be $500 billion, according to a recent government estimate.
Koji Sasahara, AP
The low-level radioactive waste disposal center in Rokkasho village.
The low-level radioactive waste disposal center in Rokkasho village.
Koji Sasahara, AP
The control center in the Rokkasho reprocessing plant. Despite setbacks with the design of new reactors, Japan still intends to reprocess spent fuel at Rokkasho even though it will mean extracting plutonium that could be used to make nuclear weapons.
The control center in the Rokkasho reprocessing plant. Despite setbacks with the design of new reactors, Japan still intends to reprocess spent fuel at Rokkasho even though it will mean extracting plutonium that could be used to make nuclear weapons.
Koji Sasahara, AP
Kazuo Sakai, senior executive director of Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd., speaks during an interview at the plant in Rokkasho village. "Our plutonium storage is strictly controlled, and it is extremely important for us to burn it as MOX (mixed oxide) fuel so we don't possess excess plutonium stockpile," he said.
Kazuo Sakai, senior executive director of Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd., speaks during an interview at the plant in Rokkasho village. "Our plutonium storage is strictly controlled, and it is extremely important for us to burn it as MOX (mixed oxide) fuel so we don't possess excess plutonium stockpile," he said.
Koji Sasahara, AP
A floor crane sits above storage pits at the high-level radioactive waste storage center. Nearly 17,000 tons of spent fuel are stored at power plants nationwide, almost entirely in spent fuel pools.
A floor crane sits above storage pits at the high-level radioactive waste storage center. Nearly 17,000 tons of spent fuel are stored at power plants nationwide, almost entirely in spent fuel pools.
Koji Sasahara, AP
Storage pits at the high-level radioactive waste storage center.
Storage pits at the high-level radioactive waste storage center.
Koji Sasahara, AP
Spent nuclear fuel rods are stored in a pool at the Rokkasho nuclear fuel reprocessing plant.
Spent nuclear fuel rods are stored in a pool at the Rokkasho nuclear fuel reprocessing plant.
Koji Sasahara, AP
A souvenir shop worker walks past a seafood display in Oma. The sign reads, "Sightseeing souvenirs specially from Oma."
A souvenir shop worker walks past a seafood display in Oma. The sign reads, "Sightseeing souvenirs specially from Oma."
Koji Sasahara, AP
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