# 6 Basis of Various Measures, and Measures Facilitating the Participation of Various Entities and International Cooperation

## (1) Expenditure for environmental conservation

The total amount of expenditure for FY2009 for environmental conservation was 2,116.8 billion yen.

## (2) Policy measures of the central government

The second review of the Third Basic Environment Plan was implemented, focusing on 5 out of 10 areas including “Efforts for global warming issues” as important areas to be reviewed.

## (3) Environmental Impact Assessment

For the purpose of promoting Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) at the stage of considering its location, size or other factors are under consideration, the Japanese government informed the public about “The Guidelines for the Introduction of Strategic Environmental Assessment” and carried out projects according to these guidelines.

A comprehensive research survey was also conducted on the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under the Environmental Impact Assessment Law. In addition, the Japanese government considered the improvement and advancement of assessment and ensured the proper implementation of the ministerial ordinances formulated by project features, which were revised in FY2006.

The government has also started preparing an information support system that stores case studies, and basic knowledge on the regulations and methods of the EIA. The collected information was supplied via the Internet or other mediums to citizens and local governments, aiming to secure the quality and reliability of EIA.

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

## A Minamata disease

The certification of Minamata disease is currently conducted in accordance with the Law concerning Compensation and Prevention of Pollution-Related Health Damage. The total number of certified patients is 2,962 (1,778 in Kumamoto Prefecture, 491 in Kagoshima Prefecture, and 693 in Niigata Prefecture) as of the end of March 2009. Of these, 820 patients still survive (426 in Kumamoto Prefecture, 169 in Kagoshima Prefecture, 225 in Niigata Prefecture).

Since 1992, the Program concerning Comprehensive Measures of Minamata Disease including medical care programs that compensate medical care expenses has been implemented. In response to the political settlement of this issue, the government resumed acceptance of applications for benefits under the medical program in 1995.

As a result of the implementation of such measures by the government and the relevant prefectures, lawsuits for state redress—except the Kansai lawsuit—were withdrawn in February and May 1996. In October 2004, the Supreme Court upheld the Osaka High Court verdict on the Kansai lawsuit, ruling that the government and Kumamoto prefectural government were responsible for failure to use the two laws concerning water quality and control and Fisheries Coordination Regulation and for failure to prevent the spread of Minamata disease since January 1960.

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

The ruling parties submitted a bill to provide relief to Minamata disease patients at an early stage in March 2009, based on the increasing number of patients claiming for relief, and the examination by the project team for the Minamata disease issue that was organized within the ruling parties. The government is promoting efforts in cooperation with the ruling parties project team and the relevant local governments.

## B Asbestos-caused health damage

Since the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief was enforced three years ago, the enforcement has been smoothly conducted in general. However, some challenges have arisen which had not been envisioned at the time of establishment of the relief program. Some application cases are made after a long period of time or after the death of the victims, due to the difficulty of diagnosis of mesothelioma. Dealing with these challenges has been considered to be necessary from the point of view of victim relief, as the deadline for requests for special survivor condolence money was pressing. After submission of the ruling parties draft - compiled by the ruling parties asbestos project team - and the draft compiled by the Democratic Party of Japan, both parties agreed to modify the bill and the revised bill was approved and enacted at a House of Councilors plenary session on June 5, 2008, promulgated on June 18, and came into force on December 1.

By the end of FY2008, the government had received a total of 7,424 applications for relief benefits under the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief, of which 4,522 were officially certified and 987 were not certified.

## (5) Making progress on environmental education and environmental learning

In accordance with the Law concerning the Enhancement of Willingness for Environmental Conservation and Promotion of Environmental Education and the basic policy based on the law, Registration of Human Resource