Illegal dumping of industrial waste in a mountainous area, Nagano Prefecture - December 1997

Illegal dumping of industrial waste in a mountainous area, Nagano Prefecture - December 1997

In December 1997, an illegal dumping of industrial waste by a local construction company, tentatively named "Matsumoto Construction Industry Cooperative Association," was uncovered in the foothills of the Northern Alps, located on the outskirts of Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. The incident revealed that approximately 500 tons of waste had been buried in a mountain forest.

Details of the dumped waste are as follows
- Construction waste (about 300 tons, 60%): concrete blocks, lumber, plasterboard, etc.
- Plastic waste (about 125 tons, 25%): insulation and pipes.
- Other unclassified waste (about 75 tons, 15%): scrap metal, glass fragments, contaminated packaging materials.

The investigation indicated that the waste contained trace amounts of heavy metals (lead and zinc), which could be released by rainwater. In particular, lead concentrations were found to be twice the standard value in a portion of the Narai River, which flows near the site, and there were concerns about the impact on agricultural water in the downstream area.

In response to a report from a resident, the Nagano Prefectural Environmental Conservation Division conducted a field investigation. As a result, it was discovered that the dumping site was private land managed by "Y.K. Yama Kaihatsu" (tentative name). The company and several people associated with the Matsumoto Construction Industry Cooperative Association were arrested for violating the Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law.

Removal Work and Disposal Costs
The removal of the waste began in January 1998 and was supported by the prefecture and the national government. The total cost was approximately 30 million yen:
- Separation and collection of approximately 500 tons of waste.
- Removal of approximately 12,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil.
- Land restoration after removal.

Judgment and Subsequent Measures
In 1999, the representative of the Matsumoto Construction Cooperative Association, the main accused in this case, was sentenced to two years in prison (suspended for four years), and the manager of Yama Kaihatsu Ltd. was fined 5 million yen. This verdict showed the harsh stance against illegal dumping and had an impact on the local community.

Efforts to Prevent Recurrence
In response to the incident, Nagano Prefecture took the following measures
- Installed surveillance cameras in the area at the foot of the Northern Alps to prevent illegal dumping.
- Launched an environmental education program for local residents and local businesses.
- Strengthened the registration system for waste transporters.

This incident reminded us of the importance of environmental conservation and waste management in mountainous areas rich in nature, and served as an opportunity to raise environmental awareness throughout Nagano Prefecture. The water quality of the Narai River has now been confirmed to have recovered, and measures to prevent recurrence are functioning effectively.