The Fukushima prefectural government and two towns where the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located have approved the construction of facilities needed to discharge treated water into the Pacific Ocean, clearing the way for this work to begin.
The prefectural government and the municipal governments of Futaba and Okuma conveyed their approval to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc., which is in charge of the plant, on Tuesday. This completes the procedures required to start construction. The focus will now shift to whether local fisheries operators will support the plan.
TEPCO could start construction of these facilities, including an undersea tunnel that will extend about 1 kilometer offshore from the plant, as soon as Thursday. TEPCO plans to start releasing treated water through the tunnel next spring.
