Table 5-7-2: Status of Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures in Accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Law

Road	Dam, etc	Railway	Airport	Power station	Disposal site	Reclamation	Area development	Total
Procedures started	71 (49)	6 (6)	13 (9)	8 (8)	41 (29)	5 (4)	10 (7)	20 (11)	169 (119)
Underway	22 (22)	3 (3)	1 (0)	1 (1)	9 (9)	2 (2)	3 (2)	5 (4)	45 (42)
Procedures completed	40 (19)	3 (3)	10 (7)	7 (7)	29 (17)	3 (2)	7 (5)	12 (5)	107 (62)
Procedures discontinued	9 (8)	—	2 (2)	—	3 (3)	—	—	3 (2)	17 (15)
Opinion of the Minister of the Environment	44 (23)	3 (3)	10 (7)	7 (7)	31 (19)	—	—	14 (6)	109 (65)

*1: Figures in ( ) show the number of cases conducted under the Law from the start of procedure. When two projects are implemented together, it is counted as one.

*2: The figures include replies without any special comments. The Minister of the Environment is supposed to give opinions only when the national government issues license or other required approval.

Source: Ministry of the Environment

8 projects, and completed for 13 projects in FY2006. Through these procedures, environmental considerations were included in the process of establishing social infrastructure.

### (4) Relief programs for victims of Minamata disease and asbestos-caused health damages a. Minamata disease

The certification of Minamata disease is conducted in accordance with the Law concerning Compensation and Prevention of Pollution-related Health Damages. The total number of certified patients is 2,958 people as of the end of March 2007, of which 897 are alive. Those certified patients receive compensations directly from companies responsible for the disease through compensation agreements.

Since FY1992, the Program concerning Comprehensive Measures of Minamata Disease has been carried out, and medical care programs, such as financial compensation of medical care expenses, are being operated under the program. Also, in response to the political settlement of this issue in 1995, the government has resumed to accept applications for benefits under the medical care programs. In May 1996, a total of ten pending lawsuits for state redress were withdrawn. In October 2004, the Supreme Court upheld the Osaka High Court verdict on the Kansai lawsuit, ruling that the government and Kumamoto prefectural government are responsible for the failure to prevent the spread of Minamata disease after January 1960.

In April 2005, prior to the 50th anniversary in 2006 of the official acknowledgement of Minamata disease, the government announced “Future Minamata Disease Countermeasures”, which consist of the measure to expand medical care programs, taking into consideration the aging of patients, the measure to assist victims including congenital patients in participating in social activities, and the measure for regional revitalization; and the government has been implementing those measures.

During the meeting for discussion on the Minamata disease issues held in September 2006, the committee presented recommendations including the proposal for the establishment of the risk management scheme for “security of life” and the development of “model areas having advanced environmental and welfare programs.”

Also, in response to the increasing number of claims for relief benefits, the project team for the Minamata disease issue was organized within the ruling parties in May 2006, and the team has been promoting deliberations.

Figure 5-7: Outline of Relief Programs for Minamata Disease Victims

* Medical treatment certificate holders are entitled to these benefits, while health care certificate holders only receive part of the medical expenses as well as expenses for acupuncture/moxibustion therapy or hot-spring treatment.*