Govt. to apologize for withholding radiation maps
The Japanese government will apologize to communities around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant for not disclosing radiation maps provided by the United States immediately after the accident last year.
Officials from the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency will visit Namie Town and other municipalities soon to explain what happened and offer an apology.
The move comes after officials from municipalities designated as no-entry zones criticized the government response. Science minister Hirofumi Hirano has said the government will review its handling of the matter.
The US government drew up maps showing the spread of radiation around the nuclear plant based on aerial surveys days after the accident.
The documents show high levels of radiation in areas to the northwest of the power station.
The government's move is seen as an attempt to ease distrust among municipalities as they are in the final stages of compensation negotiations
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120622_08.html