In April 2021, Japan announced the Basic Policy on handling of ALPS-treated water stored at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which is to discharge ALPS-treated water into the sea surrounding the plant, subject to domestic regulatory approvals.
Soon after, the Japanese authorities requested technical assistance from the IAEA to monitor and review those plans and activities related to the discharge of ALPS-treated water to ensure they will be implemented in a safe and transparent way.
The IAEA is conducting this review against the IAEA Safety Standards, which constitute harmonized high levels of safety worldwide and, as such, a global reference for protecting people and the environment.