7.2 Measures and Strategies based on the Law Concerning Special Measures
　　 For Conservation Of The Environment Of The Seto Inland Sea

　　Various measures for conservation of environment of the Seto Inland Sea have been implemented based on the Law Concerning Special Measures For Conservation of The Environment of The Seto Inland Sea and the Basic Plan For Conservation of The Environment of The Seto Inland Sea. The outlines are shown as follows.

　

Outline of the
LAW CONCERNING SPECIAL MEASURES FOR CONSERVATION
OF THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE SETO INLAND SEA

Tentative Law (establishment; October 2 in 1973, enforcement; November 11 in 1973)
Permanent Law (establishment; June 13 in 1978, enforcement; June 12 in 1979)

1. Plans for Conservation of Environment of the Seto Inland Sea (Article 3 and 4)

National Basic Plan (Establishment; April in 1978, Publishment; May in 1978,Amendment;July in 1994)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　↓ 　　
Prefectural Plan (Establishment; July in 1981,Amendment;December in 1987, June in 1992 and September in 1997)

2. Permission for the Installation of Specified Facilities (Article 5 to 10)

Persons who give the permission--Governors of prefectures or designated cities
Specified Facilities--Industries and Business Places discharging wastewater of more than 50 m3day
Pre-assessment of environmental impact by the operation of the facilities are required.

3. Reduction of Total Amount of Pollution Load (Article 12-3)

Designated Pollutant; COD
(The first control Plan; June in 1979, The second control Plan; January in 1987, The third control Plan; January in 1991, The fourth control Plan; April in 1996)

4. Guideline for Reduction of Specified Substances (Article 12-4)

　
Specified
Substances
Instruction by
Minister of E.A.
Preparation
by Governor
First Plan
phosphorus
June in 1979
April-May in 1980
Second Plan
phosphorus
December in 1985
April-May in 1986
Third Plan
phosphorus
December in 1990
April-May in 1991
Fourth Plan
nitrogen & phosphorus
March in 1996
June-July in 1996

5. Countermeasures for Natural Seashore Conservation (Article 12-7,8)

Designation of Natural Seashore Conservation Area
　　The prefectures concerned designate the area by ordinance.
　　91 areas are designated at the end of December in 1997.

6. Special Consideration iven to Reclamation (Article 13)

In considering the license for reclamation taken in the Seto Inland Sea, the governor of the prefecture concerned should take into account the peculiarities of the Seto Inland Sea. The basic policy for reclamation proposed by the Seto Inland Sea Conservation Council in May, 1974, should be applied.

7. The Others

1) Promotion of improvement and construction of sewer systems and solid waste treatment facilities
2) Prevention of oil spill by accident
3) Promotion of development of technologies for Environmental Conservation
4) Relief of fishermen damaged by red tide

Note: Prefectures concerned to the Seto Inland Sea (13 Prefectures)Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, wakayama, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Fukuoka, Ooita

　

Outline of the Basic Plan for the Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland Sea

Nature of the Plan　This plan clearly points out the basic direction of measures which should be adopted in order to indicate objectives for the conservation of the environment of the Seto Inland Sea, and so that these objectives may be achieved by the national government, regional governments, and others. And in addition to being reflected in the various plans regarding the conservation of the environment of the Seto Inland Sea, this plan should be a guideline in the enforcement of various related measures.

1. Plan objectives

　1) Objectives Regarding Water Quality Maintenance

These objectives are concerned with the achievement and maintenance of the environmental quality standards for water quality, classifying the mechanism of the occurrence of red tide, the removal of toxic sediment as well as the prevention of its adverse effects, the conservation of seaweed beds and tidelands, and the conservation of the natural seashore.

　2) Objectives Regarding the Conservation of Natural Beauty

These objectives are concerned with the conservation of the situation of main areas of natural beauty (including national parks, prefectural natural park), the protection and maintenance of greenery, the conservation of the natural seashore, the maintenance of clean sea surface as well as seashore, and the conservation of such cultural properties as historic relics, scenic spots and natural monuments.

2. Basic measures for achieving these objectives

　1) Water pollution prevention

These include measures for the enforcement of area-wide total water pollutant load control, the prevention of the occurrence of damage caused by eutrophication (including the reduction of the pollution load of phosphorus), the prevention of oil pollution, and other measures

　2) Conservation of natural beauty

This includes the conservation of natural park and other areas, the conservation of areas with a lot of greenery, the conservation of historic relics, scenic spots and natural monuments, the removal of garbage, oil and other such pollutants, and other measures (including the conservation of the natural beauty of the coastline).

　3) Conservation of the seaweed beds and tidelands

　4) Conservation of the natural seashore (conservation of areas designated as natural
　 　 seashore reserves)

　5) Consideration of environmental conservation regarding reclamation (in accordance
　　 to the Basin Policy for Reclamation)

　6) Improvement of sewerage and other systems

　7) Improvement of waste treatment facilities, and securing location for waste treatment

　8) Removal of sludge from the ocean floor and river bottoms

　9) Monitoring and surveying water quality

10) Research and investigation on environmental conservation, and technological development

11) Spreding environmental conservation-related ideas, and raising the level of
　　 awareness of environment

12) Measures for support by the National Government