WASHINGTON — The United States has eased its advice for travelers to the environs of the nuclear plant that suffered meltdown after the March quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan. The State Department on Friday advised U.S. citizens to avoid going within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant — in line with Japan's own no-go zone. The previous U.S. travel alert of July 19 recommended staying at least 80 kilometers (50 miles) away. The latest announcement said Americans saying for more than a year within that area should consult with local authorities on radiation levels. Tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate from around the plant following the quake. The nuclear crisis was the worst radiation leak since Chernobyl.