The Basic Environment Law_Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Basic Policies for Environmental Conservation

Article 36: Local governments shall comprehensively and systematically implement and promote policies corresponding to the national policies provided for in Section 5 and other policies necessary for environmental conservation in accordance with the natural and social conditions of the local governments' jurisdiction. In this case, the prefecture shall mainly implement the policies for a large area and comprehensively coordinate the policies administered by the municipalities.

Article 37 (Cost Bearing by Causers): The State and local governments shall take necessary measures to ensure that, when the State, local governments or their equivalents (referred to as the "public corporation entities" in this Article) implement a project which is deemed necessary and appropriate in order to prevent environmental pollution or interference with conservation of the natural environment (referred to as the "interference related to environmental pollution etc." in this Article) considering the necessity of prompt prevention of the interference, the scale of the project and other circumstances, persons who have caused the circumstances necessitating the project are required to bear appropriate and equitable share of the entire or a part of the expenses to implement the project, upon recognizing it is appropriate to make them bear the cost taking into account the extent of interference related to environmental pollution etc. caused by and the degree of responsibility attributed to their activities.

Article 38 (Cost Bearing by Beneficiaries): The State and local governments shall take necessary measures to ensure that, when persons receive a special benefit from the implementation of nature conservation projects carried out in areas where conservation of the natural environment is especially required, those persons are required to bear appropriate and equitable share of the entire or a part of the expenses to implement such projects in accordance with the degree of benefit received.

Article 39 (Financial Measures for Local Governments): The State shall make efforts to take necessary financial measures and other measures with regard to the expenses borne by the local governments to formulate and Implement policies for environmental conservation.

Article 40 (Cooperation between the State and Local Governments): The State and local governments shall cooperate on implementing policies for environmental conservation.