SNA (Dallas) — The government remains on track to dump treated radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean in spite of fierce foreign and domestic criticism.

The plan, endorsed by the Cabinet last year, would see over one million tons of wastewater released into the Pacific Ocean from the defunct Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant via an undersea tunnel being constructed for this purpose.

Over three hundred tons of water are flushed into the Fukushima reactors daily to deal with the continuing impact of the meltdowns, adding to the already immense volume of radioactive wastewater. This, in turn, has necessitated the construction of new storage tanks on an ongoing basis, filling up nearly the entire area of the Fukushima Daiichi facility.

The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), is utilizing Hitachi’s Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) to remove radioactive isotopes like Cesium-137 and Strontium-90 from the wastewater. According to the government, this filtering process will leave only the far less dangerous Tritium in the water, thus making its disposal in the ocean non-threatening to human health.

However, not all observers are convinced that the ALPS system is entirely effective in eliminating the more dangerous isotopes. For example, in some tanks it appears that Strontium-90 still registers higher than the legally-permitted levels.

Environmental groups have also questioned the government’s assertion that Tritium is entirely safe, noting that research on the topic is incomplete, especially considering the large volume of Tritium that is earmarked for dumping.

There is certainly no doubt that neighboring countries continue to oppose Japan’s disposal plans. Both China and South Korea have registered objections: Beijing has blasted the lack of regional consultation and Seoul has even threatened to take legal action.

China Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated last June that “the Japanese side is bent on pressing ahead with preparations for the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the sea without responding seriously and responsibly to the concerns of the international community. We would like to tell the Japanese side once again that the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water must be handled with the utmost caution, as it concerns the lives and health of the Japanese people, and people around the world, as well as the safety of the global marine ecology.”

Wang was responding to an official resolution passed by South Korea’s National Assembly, which declared that “Korea strongly condemns the Japanese government’s unilateral decision to release Fukushima’s contaminated radioactive wastewater into the sea and urges the immediate withdrawal of the decision.”

Moreover, the Pacific Islands Forum has expressed concern that the wastewater could pose a danger to the citizens of its member states and asked for third-party investigations to be conducted.

Instead of independent investigations, what Tokyo has offered is a series of briefing sessions, the most recent of which took place last week.

Opposition has not been limited to foreign nations, but also includes domestic environmental protection groups and local fishery associations.

Other than inviting consultations and joint studies with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)–a joint survey on marine life near the plant was released earlier this week–the government continues to resist independent investigations or direct participation from regional nations. It is this tight control on information that most invites the distrust within the Asia-Pacific.

For breaking news, follow on Twitter @ShingetsuNews