[ RadSafe ] RE: Korea city wins nuclear repository

Fri Nov 4 14:43:07 CST 2005

Friends,

This is a follow-up article. Note in the report:

"In the three regions that lost the bid, severe criticism was targeted at
environmental and anti-nuclear energy activist groups that encouraged
residents to vote against the project. At Yeongdeok, Gunsan and Pohang, some
residents scuffled with activist group officials. The residents said the
activists had hindered the developments of regional economies and asked them
to leave the areas."

Now this is unique condition!?  :-)

And note that in addition to cash, the development projects will raise the
population from 4400 to 20,000!?  It's like going back to our 1970's pitch
for ERDA/DOE to 'package' the repository proposals with other (related?)
facilities.

Regards, Jim Muckerheide

=========================

ROK Daily: Locals Rejoice in Gyeongju's Selection for Nuclear Dump

KPP20051103971128 Seoul JoongAng Ilbo 

Nov 05

Hong Gweon-sam, Ser Myo-ja:

"Locals Rejoice in Gyeongju's Selection for Nuclear Dump"

[Headline as provided by source.] 

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang - After Gyeongju was selected as the site for the
nation's first permanent nuclear waste dump, ending 19 years of government
efforts to find a host region, residents expressed their joy at the decision.

"When the government's support program begins, Yangbuk village will become
urbanized. It will be reborn as a place where people badly want to live," a
Gyeongju resident in Yangbuk said. The area was about 1.5 kilometers from the
site, chosen early yesterday morning as the new home for the nuclear waste
repository. "Our enthusiastic support raised the support rate for the project
at the referendum to 90 percent," another resident said. 

The city is now entitled to a state subsidy of 300 billion won ($288
million). Another 8.5 billion won will be paid to the region annually in fees
to bring in nuclear waste. 

The headquarters of the state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co. will move
to the region as well, and a multi-million-dollar sub-atomic particle
accelerator project will also be based in the region as compensation. 

The programs are expected to increase the population in Yangbuk village,
which now has 4,400 residents, by at least 20,000. 

"At first, opinions were divided, but everyone has passed beyond that now,"
said Jo Han-su, a 52-year-old seafood restaurant owner. "Isn't it nice the
region will be seeing incredible development?" 

The nuclear waste depository is expected to be built by 2008. Yangbuk is in
Gyeongju, one of Korea's ancient capitals located about 371 kilometers
southeast of Seoul. 

The National Election Commission held referenda at four cities that had
applied to host the facility on Wednesday, and Gyeongju showed a turnout of
70.8 percent with 89.5 percent of them supporting the low- and
intermediate-level radioactive waste depository. 

Anticipation was high throughout Gyeongju, but members of the 40 households
who have to move away from their hometown appeared depressed. "The government
will compensate me for my house, but not for our family's 1.6 acres of
farmland outside the village," Heo Man-sun, a 65-year-old female resident,
said. 

In the three regions that lost the bid, severe criticism was targeted at
environmental and anti-nuclear energy activist groups that encouraged
residents to vote against the project. At Yeongdeok, Gunsan and Pohang, some
residents scuffled with activist group officials. The residents said the
activists had hindered the developments of regional economies and asked them
to leave the areas.

[Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Ilbo (Internet version-WWW) in English
-- Internet-based version of an English-language daily (formerly
transliterated as Chungang Ilbo) published by the widely read independent,
moderate daily JoongAng Ilbo and distributed as an insert to the Seoul
edition of the International Herald Tribune; carries English-language
summaries and full-texts of items in vernacular hard copy in addition to
unique reportage. URL: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/] 

________________________________________

From: Muckerheide, James 

Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 4:22 PM

To: mbrexchange at list.ans.org; cdn-nucl-l at mailman1.cis.McMaster.CA

Cc: rad-sci-l at WPI.EDU; radsafe at radlab.nl

Subject: Korea city wins nuclear repository

Friends, FYI

This just came through another list.

Regards, Jim Muckerheide

===================

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200511/03/200511031657288309900090409041.html 

Gyeongju selected to host nuclear dump

November 04, 2005 

The government yesterday officially confirmed the city of Gyeongju as the
site of the country's first nuclear repository.

The city had the highest percentage of support for hosting the facility among
four cities that held a plebiscite on the issue Wednesday.

The National Election Commission reported a turnout of 70.8 percent in the
southeastern city, with 89.5 percent supporting the building of the low- and
intermediate-level radioactive waste repository.

The government plans to build the facility, to be located in the city's
Yangbuk region, on the coast of the East Sea, by 2008. 

Gyeongju is 371 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The city will receive a special state subsidy of 300 billion won ($288
million), a multi-billion won sub-atomic particle accelerator and will also
become host to the headquarters of the state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power
Co, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and said.

The economic windfall from the state assistance package is estimated to reach
several trillion won. 

In a news briefing to announce the selection, Minister of Commerce, Industry
and Energy Lee Hee-beom stressed that the selection was made with the
overwhelming support of local residents and in a fair and transparent manner.

"Since the site has been selected by a direct vote of the people, there
should be no moves to reject the future process," the official said. He
pledged that the repository will be built in a way that reflects top safety
and environmental standards.

The minister also said one reason why Korea's electric utilities costs have
stayed almost unchanged for the last 20 years is because of Korea's use of
atomic energy.

"The quality of electricity provided to South Korean consumers is on par with
the best, so it is a matter of necessity that the people accept nuclear waste
sites to store the by-products," he said. Mr. 

Lee said discussions on highly-radioactive waste will take place in the
future.

Regarding benefits that the central government planned to offer to the three
cities that did not win the bid, the minister said discussions were underway
to provide assistance in the context of balanced regional development. He
declined to elaborate on details.

The local governments of Gyeongju, Pohang and Yeongdeok, all on the east
coast, and Gunsan on the west coast, had applied to host the repository,
despite protests from environmental groups.

Gunsan, a favorite before the plebiscite, reported that 84.4 percent of
voters supported the plan, more than the 79.3 percent figure for Yeongdeok.
Pohang, an industrial city that is home to POSCO, Korea's largest steel mill,
reported a turnout of 47.2 percent, with 67.5 percent supporting the bid to
host the repository.

The turnout for Gunsan, located in North Jeolla Province, stood at

70.1 percent, while that of Yeongdeok in North Gyeongsang Province reached
80.2 percent.

Under the ground rules set by the government, the region that had the most
votes in favor would be deemed the winner. However, a minimum of one-third of
all eligible voters had to vote, and more than half of them had to support
the proposal.

The government took a dim view of objections by civic groups and anti-
nuclear organizations to building a dump site in Gyeongju, which was capital
of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 937) and is currently dotted with
historic monuments and cultural heritages.

"Yangbuk county on the east coast is far removed from the center of Gyeongju
city and closer to Ulsan, an industrial hub," said a government expert. He
claimed that because the site will encompass 600,000 pyeong (1.98 million
square meters) of land, including a buffer zone, the concerns are
exaggerated.

The official added that the proposed site for the repository is adjacent to
the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Complex.

The selection of the site is significant since Seoul had tried since 1986 to
find a willing host for the waste dump. Every previous attempt by the
government had been foiled by resistance from residents of candidate sites. 

The waste dump was last proposed to be set up on an islet off Buan, a town on
the nation's central east coast, two years ago, only to be cancelled after
violent protests by villagers.

The central government's approach this time was to first secure majority
support from local residents via the plebiscite before moving ahead with the
plan. 

The proposed repository will store low- and intermediate-level radioactive
waste from the nation's nuclear power plants, material such as gloves and
clothing as well as radioactive filters and hospital X-ray by-products, which
the government claims are relatively safe. 

Environmental groups have alleged that the voting was unfair since their
opposition was ignored by local authorities and that the press supported the
establishment of the repository. The groups said they will take the matter to
court and win an injunction to halt building of the facility.

by Yonhap  