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Press Release

FY2002 Survey on the Enforcement Status of the Noise Regulation Law

December 18, 2003

For FY2002, the Ministry of the Environment compiled a report on noise-related complaints and the status of enforcement of the Noise Regulation Law, based on reporting by local governments. An overview of the report can be found below.

1. Situation with regard to noise-related complaints

Noise-related complaints totaled 15,461 in FY2002 (versus 14,547 in FY2001), representing an increase of 914 complaints (an approx. 6.3% increase) over the previous year (see Fig. 1). A breakdown of these complaints according to the noise source shows that factories and business establishments accounted for 5,253 complaints (34.0% of the total), construction projects for 4,168 complaints (27.0%) and business operations 2,080 (13.4%).

Compared to the previous year, the number of complaints related to construction projects increased by 392, while complaints regarding neighborhood noise increased by 197 and those regarding business operations by 183 (Figs. 2 and 3).

2. Status of enforcement of the Noise Regulation Law

As of March 31, 2003, the total number of municipalities having designated areas under the Noise Regulation Law was 2,132 (an increase of 9 towns and 1 village), comprising approximately 65.9% of the total number of municipalities across Japan.

The total number of factories and business establishments registered under the Noise Regulation Law and subject to noise control in accordance with the law (specified factories, etc.) was 208,389 as of March 31, 2003 (versus 208,779 in FY2001) (Table 1). The number of on-site inspections of these specified factories conducted under this law was 879 (versus 819 in FY2001), out of which 5 sites were issued administrative warnings to redress the situation (versus 3 sites in FY2001). In FY2002 no factories or business establishments were issued administrative orders to redress the situation (versus zero such cases in FY2001). Administrative guidance was conducted in 905 cases (versus 918 in FY2001) (Table 2).

The total number of construction projects registered under the Noise Regulation Law and subject to noise control in accordance with the law (specified construction projects) was 64,694 (versus 55,627 in FY2001) (Table 3). The number of on-site inspections of these specified construction projects conducted under this law was 1,256 (versus 1,083 in FY2001), and no administrative warnings or orders to redress situations were served. Administrative guidance was conducted in 1,312 cases (versus 1,229 in FY2001) (Table 4).


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