Ho Mei-yueh, minister of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, made the remarks in a regular biannual meeting held with representatives of Orchid Island residents as well as relevant scholars and experts to discuss relocation of the radioactive waste storage site on the Orchid Island, operated by the state-run Taiwan Power Co.

Ho said that since the storage site on the island has been used for more than two decades, the government will launch a comprehensive safety check of the current nuclear waste stock, which amounts to around 90,000 barrels.

Each barrel will be checked to make sure that the outer metal clothing has not rusted and that the inner concrete seal has not loosened or degraded, Ho said, noting that the safety check process is scheduled to be completed by 2010.

In response to Orchid Island residents’ demand for relocation of the nuclear waste site away from their island, the minister underlined that the government will make public a list of suggested sites by the end of the year.

Local referendums will then be organized in each of the cities and counties where the proposed sites are located, adding that none of the proposed sites will be chosen without the approval of the local residents in such a vote.

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