WHEREAS the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster of March 11, 2011 resulted in the catastrophic failure of three nuclear reactors and associated fuel rod storage pools causing the release of significant amounts of radionuclide contamination into the atmospheric and marine environments; and the owners of the Daiichi facility TEPCO and the Japanese government have not been able to contain the marine and atmospheric radionuclide contamination originating from the failed Fukushima Daiichi facility; AND WHEREAS the 80 of British Columbians who live within 10 miles of the Pacific Ocean, as well as the wide variety of marine and coastal economic stakeholders who rely on ocean and coastal environments deserve to have access to detailed information regarding possible radionuclide contamination associated with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM support those British Columbians who are affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster by calling on the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada to immediately enact the following: 1. convene a panel of institutional and citizen scientists to determine what type and frequency of marine and atmospheric monitoring is required to maintain clear understanding of the environmental impacts of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster on coastal British Columbia; 2. determine the locations where a comprehensive network of marine and terrestrial sensors or other monitoring methodologies will be maintained; 3. commission a website that would both list the raw findings of sensor and environment testing and interpret these data in a clear and transparent manner; and 4. open negotiations directly with the government of Japan regarding both the accelerated containment of radionuclide contamination, and full financial support of the cost of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster Monitoring Program on the west coast of BC and Canada.
Ministry of Environment The Ministry of Environment understands the concerns related to the Japanese nuclear disaster and hopes the following information provides assurance that there is no risk to public health in BC based on the results of ongoing monitoring that has been taking place since the incident on March 10, 2011. The issue of monitoring and responding to radiation falls under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada, which is monitoring and assessing any potential threats to the health and safety of Canadians. These include the following: 1. Health Canada is the Government of Canadas lead agency on the impact to human health from potential radiation exposure. To learn more, please visit Health Canadas website at: http:www.hc-sc.gc.cahc-psed-udrespondnuclea2011-03-17-eng.php In addition, Health Canadas Radiation Protection Bureau provides scientific advice on radiation. For more information, please visit their website at: http:www.hc-sc.gc.caahc-ascbranch-dirgenhecs-dgsescsep-psmrpb-br-eng.php ; 2. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission CNSC, along with regulatory authorities in Canada are conducting regular radiation surveillance and monitoring radiation activities. Please visit the CNSC website for more information at: http:www.nuclearsafety.gc.caengmediacentreupdates2011japan-earthquakema… ; 3. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency tested radiation levels of seafood that may have been impacted by the radiation leak, including imported fish and edible marine products, such as seaweed. Results of all the test samples were below Health Canadas action levels for radionuclides. These results can be found online at: http:www.inspection.gc.cafoodimportsjapan-nuclear-crisiseng138444728508… Radiation from the Fukushima nuclear reactor is not considered a risk to BCs shores, nevertheless, regular monitoring continues along the coast. According to Health Canada, since the marine debris was generated and dispersed offshore several days prior to the Fukushima nuclear reactor plant leak, contamination from radiation is very unlikely as is radiation risk to marine species and ecosystems in BC. Testing conducted in BC and Washington State found no evidence of radiation in debris, including testing on a small fishing vessel, which was the first piece of debris confirmed to have come from the Fukushima prefecture. Further information can be found at: http:env.gov.bc.caepdtsunami-debrispdfAssessment-of-Radiation-Risk-in-T… and at: http:www.bccdc.cahealthenvRadiationJapanFAQdefault.htm In BC, exposure to radiation by people and communities causing health impacts falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health. Contact information for the Ministry of Health is available on their website at: http:www.health.gov.bc.caprotectcontacts.html The Ministry hopes this information has been useful and serves to both inform and address some of the concerns. If you have remaining questions, please contact the federal agencies responsible for both environmental monitoring and for responding to radiation emergencies in Canada listed above.
Minister of Health The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians. Health Canadas Radiation Protection Bureau has been monitoring environmental radioactivity on a routine basis since the monitoring program started in 1959. It currently operates two radioactivity monitoring networks, which represent a total of over 100 detection and sampling stations located all over Canada. Measurements from Health Canadas networks confirm that the quantities of radioactive materials that reached Canada as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident were very small and did not pose any health risk to Canadians. To learn more about Health Canadas radiation monitoring program, including obtaining radiation dose data from the fixed point surveillance network, please visit: http:www.hc-sc.gc.cahc-psed-udrespondnuclea2011-03-17-eng.php Health Canada is also part of the Integrated Fukushima Ocean Radionuclide Monitoring InFORM Network. InFORM is a collaborative radiation monitoring network aimed at assessing and communicating the potential environmental impact to Canadas Pacific and Arctic oceans stemming from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. More information on the network is available at http:www.fukushimainform.ca. InFORM includes government agencies Health Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, academics University of Victoria, University of Ottawa, the private sector Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and citizen scientists. As part of the InFORM Network, Health Canada is testing approximately 100 fish samples annually. For more information on fish species, location, results and technical information on the sample analyses, please consult the InFORM website at: http:www.fukushimainform.ca20141201monitoring-results-for-sockeye-salmo… Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been sampling ocean waters along a line running almost 2,000 kilometres due west of Vancouver, British Columbia. The measured radiation concentrations are very low and scientific models predict that they will remain low even when the reach the coastline. In fact, even the highest predictions point to radiation concentrations far below Health Canadas drinking water guidelines. Please be assured that Health Canada continues to monitor and review radiation levels in Canada and worldwide, using its monitoring networks and its collaborative relationships with the international community. Should data from our monitoring programs or other sources of information indicate a need for additional efforts, Health Canada would promptly notify the public health authorities including provincial and territorial authorities of the situation and provide guidance on how to best address the issue.