U.S. jet noise prompts Atsugi residents to sue

U.S. jet noise prompts Atsugi residents to sue
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Dec 18, 2007 6:06:02 EST

TOKYO — Thousands of residents near an air base used by Japanese and U.S. forces have sued the Japanese government to seek compensation for noise pollution caused by fighter jets, a court official said Tuesday.

A total of 6,130 residents filed the joint lawsuit Monday at the Yokohama District Court, demanding 4.65 billion yen ($41.2 million) in damages for problems sparked by the noise at the Naval Air Station Atsugi near Tokyo, according to court spokesman Atsushi Yajima.

It was the fourth lawsuit related to noise at the base since the 1970s but is believed to be Japan’s biggest so far involving military base noise. Residents near other U.S. bases in Japan have filed similar lawsuits.

The suit comes more than a year after the Tokyo High Court in July 2006 ordered the government to pay 4 billion yen to 3,500 other residents near Atsugi in compensation for noise-related problems.

However, the plaintiffs complained it was insufficient because the noise persisted, interfering with their daily conversations and allegedly causing insomnia, hearing difficulties and other health problems.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_jetnoisesuit_071218/



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