U.S. Navy: Low-level radiation detected at some Tokyo-area bases

ERIK SLAVIN
Stars and Stripes
March 15, 2011

NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan — The Navy said very low levels of airborne radiation were detected Tuesday morning at greater Tokyo-area bases in Yokosuka and Atsugi, prompting commanders to direct base residents to remain indoors as a precaution.

At 7 a.m., the aircraft carrier USS George Washington at Yokosuka Naval Base detected elevated radiation levels, according to a U.S. Navy 7th Fleet statement. The Navy said the elevated levels were associated with the disaster at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant, located about 200 miles to the north.

A level of 0.5 millirems of radiation was detected at Atsugi with similar levels at Yokosuka, said Atsugi public affairs officer Tim McGough. The radiation was detected coming from winds blowing from the northeast, he said.

“We’re not expecting this to last long,” McGough said. “Winds should be changing early this afternoon, we’re told.”

Officials at Camp Fuji, Camp Zama and Yokota Air Base, all in the Tokyo area, told Stars and Stripes that they had not detected elevated levels of radiation as of about noon Tuesday.

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