Boundary Mountain Burial Chronicles - Records of Illegal Disposal in Both Blue Rock and Blue Rock Counties (1999-2007)
In 1999, a large-scale illegal dumping of industrial waste was discovered near the border between Tago Town, Aomori Prefecture and Ninohe City, Iwate Prefecture. An estimated over 1 million cubic meters of waste was buried in the mountains, and this incident triggered widespread attention to the challenges of waste administration in Japan.
The materials disposed of included incinerator ash, sludge, and medical waste, and the companies involved included Sanei Chemical Industry, Sanei Kogyo, and Agata Nan Sanitation Co. The disposal took place in a valley on the Aomori side and was covered with soil on the Iwate side, using a cross-border approach that took advantage of the prefectural border.
The source of the waste amounted to approximately 12,000 companies throughout Japan, making it extremely difficult to track down the responsible parties. The system at the time was inadequate for tracking and reconfirmation, and the problem was further complicated by the multiple subcontractor structure and inadequate record keeping.
In 2004, Aomori and Iwate prefectures began a joint restoration project, which included excavation, removal, incineration, and soil improvement. Konoike Corporation and others provided technical assistance, but the lack of waste disposal facilities and high costs continue to be a problem.
The case prompted a review of emitter responsibility and monitoring systems, but institutional and operational issues still remain. The case revealed the limitations of the system and the lack of awareness of the environment in society as a whole, and is considered an important case study for future environmental policies.
Treatment and monitoring are still ongoing in some areas, and the importance of recording and verification has been reaffirmed.
Chronology of the Aomori/Iwate Border Illegal Dumping Case
- Early 1990s - 1999: Illegal dumping continues. Burial of waste by the companies involved begins.
- December 1999: Aomori Prefecture discovers unusual land alteration. Investigations begin in earnest.
- 2000: Illegal dumping across prefectural borders is discovered and becomes a social problem.
- 2001: A joint Aomori/Iwate survey confirms dumping of an estimated 1 million cubic meters or more.
- 2002-2003: Restoration plans were formulated by the national and prefectural governments.
- 2004: Restoration project started. Removal and incineration work began. Konoike Corporation provided technical assistance.
- 2005-2007: Partial disposal is completed. Issues remain regarding disposal sites and costs.
Additional information on the amount of damage
At this time, there is no publicly available record of the amount of damage caused by this incident. However, Aomori Prefecture has established a "reputational damage benefit system for illegal dumping incidents on the Aomori-Iwate border" to address the economic impact and reputational damage that is believed to have occurred as a result of this case, and compensatory measures are being taken for businesses in the vicinity.
On the other hand, the total amount of damage in concrete monetary terms is not stated in the chronology of the incident and report materials disclosed by Aomori Prefecture, nor in the business plan of Iwate Prefecture. This may be due to the fact that the nature of the damage is diverse, making it difficult to separate direct damage from indirect losses.
Related information (documents and organizations)
- Companies involved: Sanei Chemical Industry Co.
- Number of businesses that emit: Approximately 12,000 companies
- Estimated illegal dumping amount: over 1 million cubic meters
- Related data provided by:
Aomori Prefectural Government Illegal dumping archives
Iwate Prefecture Environmental Policy Materials
RecycleHub: Background of the incident
Konoike Corporation Environmental restoration technology and examples
Aomori Prefecture Rumor Damage Countermeasure Benefit
No comments:
Post a Comment