Military Bases and Noise Pollution: Taking Measures Further Than Before

http://watchingamerica.com/News/239466/military-bases-and-noise-pollution-taking-measures-further-than-before/

Military Bases and Noise Pollution: Taking Measures Further Than Before
Nishinippon Shinbun, Japan
By Editorial
Translated By Courtney Coppernoll
23 May 2013
Edited by Kyrstie Lane

A military base is public in nature and serves the public good. So, how are these features being balanced with the peaceful lives of citizens who live in the vicinity of such bases? I'd like to urge the government to make a judicial ruling on this matter beyond what they have done until now.

Naval Air Facility Atsugi, in Kanagawa prefecture, is jointly used by the U.S. military and Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Forces. A Yokohama district court recently ruled that the Japanese government must pay damages to local residents for the noise, and also ordered the suspension of Self-Defense Forces aircraft flights. Though lawsuits just like this one have been filed in the past, this is the first time such conditions have been awarded.

The Tokyo High Court has also shared its thoughts on noise pollution caused by military bases up until now. Although it recognizes the noise has previously caused injuries, it does not acknowledge any future damage it may do. It also rejects demands to prohibit military flights, which some have criticized as being too passive. Though the plaintiffs in this most recent ruling also wanted to prohibit U.S. military aircraft from being flown at night — which accounts for the majority of the noise — that part of the suit was rejected. As a result, the terms for damage prevention are limited. However, these terms still extend beyond the limits of previous rulings, which is of no small significance. Let's hope the influence of this ruling will spread to every base-related lawsuit around the country.

Naval Air Facility Atsugi has been carrying out night-time takeoff and landing practices for U.S. planes stationed on aircraft carriers. There are plans to relocate these carrier-based planes to Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture, a base jointly operated by the MSDF and U.S. Marine Corps. There are additional plans to move U.S. aircraft training practices to bases on Japan's main island in order to reduce some of the burden placed on Okinawa by the military bases located there. Now, base-related noise pollution measures have the potential of becoming a more widespread issue than ever.