Invitation for Public Comment on the Amendments to the Enforcement Regulation for the Law Relating to Protection of the Environment in Antarctica

The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) is in the process of preparing a ministerial ordinance partially amending the enforcement regulation for the Law Relating to Protection of the Environment in Antarctica. The amendments are being made in response to the Measure 1 (2006), which was adopted in the 29th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (http://www.ats.aq/29atcm/) held from June 12 to 23, 2006, in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom. The MOE invites public comments on the amendments until August 25, 2006.

The international obligation is stipulated by the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (ratified in 1997). To ensure the fulfillment of the obligation, Japan enacted the Law Relating to Protection of the Environment in Antarctica (Law No.61, 1997).

Annex V of the Protocol establishes that any area may be designated as an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) to protect outstanding environmental values, and that management plans may be formulated for those areas. In addition, sites or monuments having historic value are designated as Antarctic Historic Sites and Monument (HSM). In Japan, the practical details for implementing these stipulations are provided for in the enforcement regulation for the Law Relating to Protection of the Environment in Antarctica. The ministerial ordinance amending the enforcement regulation will be put into force on September 21, 2006.

During the 29th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, the parties adopted a set of Measures supporting new designations of ASPA (3 areas), the amendment of the management plans of ASPA (5), and the addition of HSM (1).

Access to the drafts:
The drafts (in Japanese) can be viewed at the Ministry of the Environment. Summaries of the drafts are posted on the web page of the Ministry of the Environment (https://www.env.go.jp/).

Submission period:
July 27 - August 25, 2006

Submit comments to:
Global Environment Issues Division, Global Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment
e-mail: antarctic@env.go.jp
No. 5 Godochosha, 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8975 Japan

For Japanese