TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 15-928

________________________________________________________________________

DEFENSE

Cooperation

Agreement Between the

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

and JAPAN

Signed at Washington September 28, 2015 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent

evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof

or authentication thereof.”
 JAPAN

 Defense: Cooperation

 Agreement signed at Washington

 September 28, 2015;

 Entered into force September 28, 2015.
AGREEMENT 

BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND JAPAN 

ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP 

RELATING TO THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN JAPAN, 

SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE AGREEMENT UNDER ARTICLE VI 

OF THE TREATY OF MUTUAL COOPERATION AND SECURITY 

BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND JAPAN, 

REGARDING FACILITIES AND AREAS 

AND THE STATUS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN JAPAN 

The United States of America (hereinafter referred to as 

"the United States") and Japan, hereinafter referred to as "the 

Parties"; 

Confirming that the United States armed forces in Japan 

(hereinafter referred to as "the United States armed forces") 

under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the 

United States of America and Japan (hereinafter referred to as 

"the Treaty") and the Agreement under Article VI of the Treaty 

of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States of 

America and Japan, Regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status 

of United States Armed Forces in Japan (hereinafter referred to 

as "the Status of Forces Agreement"), both signed at Washington 

on January 19, 1960, contribute to the security of Japan and the 

maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East; 

Acknowledging the importance of environmental stewardship 

and its contribution to managing risks to public safety in 

relation to the presence of the United States armed forces, 

including the prevention of pollution in, adjacent to, or in the 

vicinity of the facilities and areas in Japan the use of which 

is granted to the United States under Article VI of the Treaty 

(hereinafter referred to as "the facilities and areas"); 

Recognizing the Parties' successful efforts for 

environmental stewardship, including many decades of close 

cooperation in the Joint Committee provided for in paragraph 1 

of Article XXV of the Status of Forces Agreement (hereinafter 

referred to as "the Joint Committee") and the Environmental 

Subcommittee and other relevant subcommittees of the Joint 

Committee; 
Reaffirming the successful implementation of the "Joint 

Statement of Environmental Principles" announced by the Parties 

on September 11, 2000, which includes reference to United States 

policy relating to addressing the impact of contamination caused 

by the United States armed forces as well as Japan's policy to 

respond appropriately, in accordance with relevant laws and 

regulations, to serious contamination caused by sources outside 

of the facilities and areas; 

Reaffirming that operations in the facilities and areas 

continue to be carried on with due regard for the public safety 

in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article III of the Status of 

Forces Agreement; and 

Wishing to strengthen cooperation between the Parties in 

the field of environmental stewardship by establishing a 

framework, including this Agreement which supplements the Status 

of Forces Agreement; 

Have agreed as follows: 

ARTICLE 1 

The purpose of this Agreement is to enhance cooperation 

between the Parties for environmental stewardship in relation to 

the United States armed forces. 

ARTICLE 2 

The Parties shall continue to cooperate fully, through the 

framework of the Joint Committee, to provide to one another 

available and appropriate information regarding situations that 

could affect public safety, including human health and safety, 

in, adjacent to, or in the vicinity of the facilities and areas. 

ARTICLE 3 

1. In accordance with United States policy, the United States 

issues and maintains final governing standards for the 

environment (referred to in Japan as "Japan Environmental 

Governing Standards" and hereinafter referred to as "the JEGS") 

that provide environmental compliance standards, including 

provisions for spill response and prevention, for the activities 

of the United States armed forces within the facilities and 

areas. The United States is responsible for providing policy on 

these environmental compliance standards. 
2. The JEGS generally adopt the more protective of applicable 

United States standards, Japan standards, or international 

agreement standards. 

3. Prior to the United States issuing each revision of the 

JEGS, or whenever requested by Japan to facilitate such revision 

of the JEGS, the Parties shall, within the Environmental 

Subcommittee of the Joint Committee, cooperate and discuss Japan 

standards to ensure that the United States correctly and 

accurately understands Japan standards with respect to the JEGS. 

ARTICLE 4 

The Parties agree that the Joint Committee shall establish 

and maintain procedures so that specified Japan authorities have 

appropriate access to the facilities and areas in the following 

two cases: 

(a) Following a contemporaneous environmental incident, 

i.e., a spill; and 

(b) For site surveys, including cultural asset surveys, 

associated with the return to Japan of the facilities 

and areas, including those facilities and areas to be 

returned to Japan mentioned in the Joint Statement of 

the United States-Japan Security Consultative 

Committee (SCC) on October 3, 2013. 

ARTICLE 5 

1. Upon request by either Party, the Parties shall initiate 

consultations through the framework of the Joint Committee on 

any matter regarding the implementation of this Agreement. 

2. If any dispute arises between the Parties relating to the 

implementation of this Agreement, the Parties shall settle it in 

accordance with the procedures for resolving matters set out in 

Article XXV of the Status of Forces Agreement. 

ARTICLE 6 

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of 

signature. 

2. This Agreement shall remain in force as long as the Status 

of Forces Agreement remains in force. 
3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this Article, either Party 

may terminate this Agreement by giving one year's written notice 

through diplomatic channels to the other Party. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized for 

the purpose, have signed the present Agreement. 

DONE in duplicate at Washington in the English and Japanese 

languages, both texts being equally authentic, 

this twenty-eighth day of September, 2015. 

FOR THE UNITED STATES 

OF AMERICA: 

UltC~-t: 

FOR JAPAN: 

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