The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency proposed freezing studies by the Nuclear Safety Commission in 2006 on expanding the "disaster-mitigation zones" around nuclear plants during emergencies to bring Japanese regulations in line with international standards, according to email messages released Thursday by the commission.
NISA, part of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, argued that expanding the zones "could cause social unrest and increase popular anxiety," the messages say.
The NSC, an independent body tasked with supervising nuclear safety regulation, did not enlarge the zones after considering the matter in 2006. It now appears its inaction resulted from NISA's repeated complaints.