A local fishermen's organization decided Tuesday to allow Tokyo Electric Power Co. to dump groundwater from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear complex into the sea on condition that the water meets certain decontamination standards.
The measure is expected to slow the pace of toxic water buildup at the plant. Groundwater will be pumped up before it gets mixed with highly radioactive water accumulating in the basements of reactor buildings and directed to the Pacific Ocean.
Amid concerns that the move could harm the marine environment, Tepco said in February that it will set stringent safety criteria. For example, the density of radioactive tritium in the water should not exceed one-fortieth of the legal limit.