Review of the role of semi-government and private sector organizations in environmental measures against airport noise in Japan

摘要

This paper discusses the role and significance of semi-government and private sector organizationsin environment improvement activities against airport noise in Japan. The environmentalmeasures have been conducted under the framework of the Aircraft Noise Prevention Law, whichmainly stipulates for subsidization to soundproofing works and so on, compensation for removalof houses and improvement of green buffer zones. But, the compensation and subsidization systemdid not necessarily work well at the beginning because there were constraints on effective actionby the national government. Then, the semi-government and private sector organizations wereformed under the designation by the national government or with the approval of the Minister ofTransportation. On one hand, the semi-government organizations, funded by the national and localprefecture governments, have been involved not only in the work of compensatory measures butalso land-use planning such as the relocation of buildings and construction of low-cost houses. Onthe other, the private organization has been involved in subsidization for installation of measuresto prevent TV interference, health examination and so on, based on income from operation ofparking lots under the permission of the government together with support from various associationsand companies related to airports.