Environmental Impact Assessment System of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
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Environmental Impact Assessment System of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government An Environmental Impact Assessment (Environmental Assessment) system is a framework to estimate and minimize the possible impact that a proposed project will have on the environment. Prior to a decision being made on a major development project, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is conducted to estimate and evaluate the likely inuence the project may have on the environment and review how to minimize the impact. The result of the assessment is made open to the public and comments are invited from local residents and relevant municipalities. It is also reviewed from the expert’s point of view. Pollution and loss of the natural environment may impair people’s health and comfort. Sometimes it is difcult to restore the original natural environment. To preserve a sound natural environment, it is important to put proactive and preventive measures into effect, including the EIA system. Since October 1981, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has implemented environmental impact assessment procedures before making decisions on projects larger than a certain scale, in accordance with the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance. The procedures are designed to ensure that such projects incorporate reasonable considerations on the prevention of pollution, preservation of the natural and historical environment, and maintenance of the landscape. In July 2002, TMG revised the ordinance to specify that an environmental impact assessment procedure must be followed in the planning phase for projects larger than a specied scale. 1 * e-mail. EAR. Opinions can be brought in personally or submitted bymail or the environment consideration report, the survey plan and the draft environmental preservation within acertain period of time, concerning Residents of may Tokyo submit opinions from the viewpoint of environmental assessment report (EAR). the contents of the environment consideration report and the draft meetings during the public inspection period, toinform residents of explanatory hold shall business organization and relevant The inspection for 30 days from the date of the public announcement. shall be made open tothe public and be available for public report consideration environment The plans. environmental applicable prepare an environment consideration report, describing the shall organization business and relevant the project, a planning Upon Procedures for special environment consideration reports are different from the 3 2 1 standard procedure. standard Submission of residents’ opinions residents’ of Submission Explanatory meeting Report Consideration Environment Heads of related Businesses municipal Council Governor and Residents governments organizations of Tokyo Environmental Assessment procedure for planning for procedure Assessment Environmental Submission Environment Consideration Report Approx. days 180 Standard time period for the Governor process: to Planning-phase determination of likely Notication affected areas Consult ImpactAssessment Ordinance Environmental Metropolitan intheTokyo Required Basic Procedures Council Public inspection Make public the environment consideration report and make it Explanatory Participation available for public meeting inspection (30 days) Written Opinions Submission opinions Town hall meeting to hear opinions from Tokyo (Participation) Participation residents announcement public the Within 45 days of the date of Meeting to hear the (Participation) opinions from businesses * Only for aTMG project and organizations Participation Council Report Send Governor’s examination report on the environment Announce to the public and specied procedures. specied and the projecthas already beenundergone the EIA in the planning phase announcement. The procedure for the survey plan may be omitted if available for public inspection days for from 10 the date of the public project. The survey plan shall be made open tothe public and be and assessing likely impacts on the environment of implementing the prepare asurvey plan, describing methods for surveying, predicting Businesses and organizations engaged in the relevant project shall Council may participate in the meeting tolisten tothe residents’ opinions. the draft EAR. Members of the Environmental Assessment Advisory residents of on Tokyo the environment consideration report and on The Governor shallhost town a hall meeting hear to opinions from the consideration report 5 4 Respect the Governor’s Survey plan Survey residents Tokyo Holding hall atown meeting hear to opinions from examination report Planning Submission Announce to the public procedure for projects for procedure Assessment Environmental Approx. 45 60 to days Standard time period for the Governor process: to Submission Survey Plan Decision on areas to be informed Council Public inspection Consult Make public the survey plan and make it available for public inspection (10 days) Submission Written opinions Opinions Report announcement public the Within 20 days of the date of Council Governor’s Send examination report Announce to the public on the survey plan Report Selection of Environmental Assessment items Submission Draft Environmental Approx. days 70 actions: Governor’s the for needed period time Standard Assessment Report (EAR) Implementation-phase Issuers of license Notication announcement. available for public inspection days for from 15 the date of the public The environmentalassessment report shall be made public and be inspection for 20 days from the date of the public announcement. EAR. The comments shall be made public and be available for public report” toexpress its views on the opinions of the residents on the draft The relevant business and organization shall prepare “business’s opinion begins with the draft EAR process. designated bythe Governor, the project assessment procedure announcement. When aproject is implemented in aspecied area available for public inspection for 30 days from the date of the public a draft EAR. The report shall be made open tothe public and be Based on the survey plan, businesses and organizations shall prepare 8 7 6 determination of likely or approval affected areas Notication Environmental assessmentEnvironmental report opinion reportBusiness’s Draft environmental assessment report (EAR) Council Consult Public inspection Make public the draft EAR and make it available for Explanatory Participation public inspection meeting (30 days) Written Opinions Submission opinions Submission Opinions of announcement public the Within 45 days of the date of businesses and Approx. days 70 actions: Governor’s the for needed period time Standard organizations on the draft EAR Make public the business’s opinion Public inspection report and make them available for public inspection (20 days) Town hall meeting to Participation Participation hear opinions from Tokyo residents Council Report Governor’s examination report on Announce to the public the draft EAR Send copies/Request Restriction environment considerations Submission on project Issuers of license Environmental implementation or approval Assessment Report and submit afollow-up survey report (after completion). completion report shall the organization and business the construction, follow-up survey report (during construction) and upon completion of the plan). After the start of the work, the business and organization submit a and submit aplan for conducting afollow-up survey follow-up (a survey When the work starts, the business and organization shall report the start license or granting approval for implementing the project. should pay due consideration tothe contents of the EAR in issuing the The Governor shall request that issuers of the license or approval 10 9 Procedure for follow-up survey approval or license the issuers of of considerations Request Make public the EAR and make it available for public inspection (15 days) Follow-up survey procedure survey Follow-up Submission Project Start Statement Follow-up survey plan Public announcement ★ of the project start Public announcement necessary measures. or issuer of the license or approval take organization business and the that immediately environment, the Government shall request likely to have serious impacts on the When it is deemed that the project in question is and examine details of the reports if necessary. The Governor may ask for the Council’s opinion statement of the plan Submission Follow-up survey report Ask for comments (during project works) as necessary Council Announce to the public Provide opinions Submission Completion statement Ask for Public announcement comments as of completion necessary statement Council Provide opinions Submission Follow-up survey report (after completion of the project) Announce to the public 2 Types and requirements for relevant projects The table below shows types and requirements of relevant projects (Environmental Assessment Procedure for project) and individual plans and individual plans (Environmental Assessment Procedure for planning) required by the Ordinance. Outline of requirements for a relevant project Outline of requirements for an Outline of requirements for a relevant project Outline of requirements for an Type of project Type of project (description and size) individual plan (description and size) (description and size) individual plan (description and size) National expressway or motor highway: Factories or facilities associated with manufacturing*: Factories or facilities associated with manufacturing*: