Figure 2-2-5 Trends in Sales of Climbing Plants

Note: Sales performance at Sakata Seed Corporation's Garden Center Yokohama

Source: Sakata Seed Corporation

Photo: Ministry of the Environment

## Section 3 Responses to Various Environmental Issues

The Great East Japan Earthquake not only brought problems in terms of the disposal of disaster waste and electricity supply and demand, but also in areas beyond environmental sectors. Concerns included: the spread of seafloor sludge to land areas due to the tsunami; the release of asbestos into the air in demolishing collapsed buildings; and the spread of hazardous substances into the air, the public water supply, groundwater, and soil, as well as the flow of wastes and oil into the ocean, which have deleterious effects on people's health and living environment. In addition, the prolonged evacuation period requires that we take steps to properly dispose of human and other waste, care for affected pets, and ensure that the government acts in a way that respects the rights those who affected by the disaster.

This section gives an overview of countermeasures based on laws that are designed to cope with the environmental issues stemming from the Great East Japan Earthquake. It also gives the current status of the recovery effort as achieved through these countermeasures. Environmental issues related to the nuclear power station accident will be described particularly in following section.

## 1 Disposal of Human Waste, Sewage Water, and Other Kinds of Waste in Affected Areas

Affected areas must take critical measures to dispose of the human waste and normal waste generated not only in local communities but also in evacuation shelters. The Ministry of the Environment asked various groups involved in providing emergency support to quickly dispose of waste and to collect and transport disaster waste immediately after the disaster. In response to these requests, workers, equipment, and other kinds of supports were dispatched from local governments and domestic waste disposal operators, in addition to numerous other forms of free assistance.

Specifically, this meant dispatching personnel from municipalities nationwide to municipalities in the affected area. Even now, personnel are being dispatched to local governments in the affected area. To ensure public health and sanitation, Government checked the drainage function of all sewage pipes in affected urban areas immediately after the disaster. When damaged sewage water pipes and pumps were detected, temporary pumps or piping were installed as an emergency measure to eliminate foul water. For the sewage treatment plants damaged by the tsunami, further efforts have been continuing for reintegration to their original condition, including recovery for the gradual improvement of treatment water quality as well as primary water treatment in temporary facilities and so on.

## 2 Status of Environmental Pollutant Discharge (1) Status of water and soil environments

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, there was concern over the negative impact on people's lives and the deterioration of living environments due to leakage of hazardous materials into the public water supply and groundwater, as well as due to the flow of waste and oil into the ocean due to the tsunami. To cope with these potential hazards, an emergency monitoring survey was conducted to observe water conditions.

The survey took place over an area extending from Aomori Prefecture to Ibaraki Prefecture, which was badly affected

Figure 2-3-1 Predicted Results of General Drifting Objects (December 2011 to June 2013)

Source: Ministry of the Environment "The announcement of the prediction for the drifting objects on the sea caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake" (April 6, 2012)