Japan will create a database to help other Asian countries safely dispose of hazardous waste, officials have said. The database, which will be operational next year, will offer information on methods used by Japan, South Korea, the United States and European nations to dispose of contaminated materials such as low-level nuclear waste and radioactive isotopes, the Asahi Shimbun reported Tuesday. Kenkichi Hirose, director general of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, an arm of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, made the proposal at a recent meeting in Tokyo of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Under the plan, experts would be dispatched to help when problems arise. With its accumulated expertise in disposing of waste from nuclear power plants and radioisotopes used in medical therapy and biological research, Japan expects to play a leading role in sharing information on control systems and personnel training programs. China and South Korea are expected to join the network, along with other countries that have nuclear power plants or are planning to build them. © Copyright 2005 by United Press International

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