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Press Release

Bill Partially Amending the Law concerning Special Measures for the Conservation of Lake Water Quality

March 7, 2005

The Cabinet shall adopt a Bill Partially Amending the Law Concerning Special Measures for the Conservation of Lake Water Quality on March 8 and shall submit the bill to the 162nd Session of the Diet. The improvement of lake water quality has been stagnant although the Law has been enforced for more than 20 years. Taking this into consideration, necessary amendment is made to promote further improvement of water quality of lakes and reservoirs.

<Outline of Amendment>

1.Further reduction of pollution load flowing into lakes and reservoirs
(1) Establishing an area for effluent control
- To designate areas where control of pollution load in the effluent from agricultural and urban areas is necessary.
- To formulate plan for control of pollution load in the effluent and promote necessary measures for it.
(2) Expanding the scope of regulation for factories and business establishments
- Pollution load control which was applied only to newly established or expanded factories and business establishments shall be newly applied to the existing factories and business establishments.

2.Protection of appropriate lake environment to secure water purification capacity
Establishing protected areas in the surrounding areas of lakes and reservoirs.
- Designating areas where special protection is required for water quality preservation (eg. reed bed surrounding lakes and reservoirs)
- Requiring notification for activities such as plant collection

3.Others
To incorporate hearing the views of local residents concerned into formulating process of the lake water quality conservation plans.

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