Press Release

February 22, 2008
  • Air & Transportation

FY 2006 Survey on the Enforcement Status of the Air Pollution Control Law

The Ministry of the Environment released a report on the enforcement status of the Air Pollution Control Law (hereinafter referred to as "the Law") for FY 2006.

1. Purpose of the survey
The purpose of the survey is to acquire basic data for air pollution control administration by determining the current enforcement status of the Law. The collected information included the number of notifications made by smoke and soot-emitting facilities, and the state of regulation duties.

2. Survey details
-The number of notifications of smoke and soot-emitting facilities, volatile organic compound exhaust facilities, general/specified dust discharging facilities and specified dust discharging work ('specified dust' refers to asbestos.)
-The state of regulation duties conducted by prefectures and ordinance designated cities.

3. Survey method
The survey was conducted in FY 2006 to compile information on the number of notifications made by business entities and the state of regulation duties conducted by prefectures.

4. Summary of the survey results
-The number of smoke and soot-emitting facilities tend to level off and the number of notifications was 218,514 facilities as of the end of FY 2006 (with 218,702 facilities at the end of FY 2005). Among these, facilities equipped with boilers (141,466 facilities, 64.7%), diesel engines (32,608 facilities, 14.9%) and gas-turbines (8,196 facilities 3.8%) were prominent.
-The number of designated dust discharging facilities tend to decrease and the number of notifications was six facilities (two factories) (94 facilities (27 factories) at the end of FY 2005).
-The number of specified dust discharging work tends to increase (this includes the demolition of buildings containing spray-applied asbestos). It was 21,007 cases in FY 2006 and 10,040 cases in FY 2005.
-Thirteen cases were subject to the administrative offence accusation of the Law and 483 cases were subject to administrative guidance, including recommendation.

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