A remote island in the Ogasawara Islands chain has agreed to a survey to determine its suitability as a permanent nuclear waste disposal site, becoming the fourth local government to agree to become a candidate for a plan that has faced strong resistance in many locations.

During a meeting with local residents of the island of Chichijima on Monday, Ogasawara Mayor Masaki Shibuya effectively gave the green light to the central government¡¯s proposal of conducting a geological survey on Minamitorishima ¡ª Japan¡¯s easternmost island, located about 2,000 kilometers from Tokyo.

¡°The government should be the one to make the decision,¡± Shibuya said at the meeting in Chichijima, nearly 1,300 kilometers from Minamitorishima. He later met with residents of Hahajima island.