30/03 Japan, U.S. coordinate efforts on nuclear crisis

The Yomiuri Shimbun

The Japanese and U.S. governments have set up four task forces under a joint liaison and coordination council to deal with the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, sources said.

The move aims to use the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance to coordinate joint efforts to deal with the ongoing crisis.

Ranking government officials, nuclear experts and military officials from both Japan and the United States, in addition to officials of Tokyo Electric Power Co. and other nuclear power plant companies, will take part in the task forces and the council.

The task forces have four respective aims--to shield nuclear substances to prevent their diffusion as soon as possible; dispose of the fuel rods to stabilize the situation at the plant over the medium term; decommission the nuclear reactors over the long term; and offer medical and livelihood assistance to residents near the plant.

The medical and livelihood support team soon will be established, following the three other task forces that already have come into existence. Goshi Hosono, assistant to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, is supervising and managing the work of the four task forces.

The joint liaison and coordination council has met daily since operations began on March 22. U.S. participants on the council include officials of the Energy Department, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the military and U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

(Mar. 30, 2011)