Following the release of radionuclides into the environment as a result of the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) had to develop an immediate and effective method of reducing the dose rate received by students in school facilities. A demonstration of a reducing method was carried out by JAEA at a junior high school ground and kindergarten yard in the center of Fukushima-city. Dose rates of the released radionuclides are largely controlled by the ground level contamination and accumulation of mainly Cesium137 (Cs-137) and Cesium 134 (Cs-134) in populated areas. An effective means of reducing dose rate was to remove the surface soil and to bury it on-site under fresh uncontaminated soil or soil collected under deep depth at the site for shielding. The dose rate at1 m above ground level was reduced from 2.5 µSv/h to 0.15 µSv/h.

After the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)was chosen by the Government to conduct decontamination pilotprojects at selected sitesin the contaminated area of Fukushima. Despite tight boundary conditions in terms of timescale and resources, the projectsprovide a good basis for developing recommendations on how to assure clean-up efficiency and worker safety and reduce time, cost, subsequent waste management and environmental impact. The results of the project can be summarised in terms of site characterisation and data interpretation, clean-up and waste minimisation and storage.