(4) Fact-finding Survey by Local Governments

1.Construction of Petrochemical Complexes and the Outset of Pollution

Confronting these serious pollution problems, Mie Prefecture and Yokkaichi City responded quickly, which brought them satisfactory results in As a part of the above efforts, Yokkaichi City organized the Yokkaichi City Environmental Pollution Control Measures They stated in their interim report issued in 1960 that " They stated in their interim report issued in 1960 that "Isozu District has SO2 concentrations nearly 6 times as high as those in other parts of the city", and concluded their investigation in 1961, describing that "the mortality due to pollution in the city is about 10 times as high as in other parts of the city. On the basis of the above reports, the mortality due to respiratory or circulatory diseases in Yokkaichi has a marked tendency to increase". On the basis of the above reports, Mie Prefecture and Yokkaichi City has requested the national government to designate Yokkaichi as "a On the basis of the above reports, Mie Prefecture and Yokkaichi City has requested the national government to designate Yokkaichi as "a target area" prescribed in the Soot and Smoke Regulation Law.
In the absence of systems to regulate emissions of soot and smoke from industrial activities, pollution intensified day by day in Yokkaichi. Attaching great importance to the matter and taking into account the request from Mie Prefecture and Yokkaichi City, the national government organized the Special The council started assessment of the state of the pollution in 1963, and has been working to improve the quality of air pollution in the Yokkaichi area. The council started assessment of the state of the pollution in 1963, and in the succeeding year in March 1964, concluded their report stating fundamental duties of industry and administration in pollution controls. The report also included recommendations itemized into 10 points such as the designation of Yokkaichi Area as "a The report also included recommendations itemized into 10 points such as the designation of Yokkaichi Area as "a target area" of the Soot and Smoke Regulation Law, introduction of taller smokestacks to diffuse or dilute flue gas, and installation or The report was intended to urge the national government to review its industrial policy, suggesting The report was intended to urge the national government to review its industrial policy, suggesting "the future direction of Japan's industrial pollution controls" based on past experiences of Yokkaichi as a The report was intended to urge the national government to review its industrial policy, suggesting "the future direction of Japan's industrial pollution controls" based on past experiences of Yokkaichi as a victim of serious air pollution.
In Yokkaichi, the atmospheric and aquatic environment was heavily polluted by oily waste water, soot and dust, SO2, and other materials released from industrial activities. This fact was chiefly attributed to rapid industrialization during the process of the post-war high growth of the economy to construct enormous industrial complexes without recognizing the effect upon the surrounding environments or This fact was chiefly attributed to rapid industrialization during the process of the post-war high growth of the economy to construct enormous industrial complexes without recognizing the effect upon the surrounding environments or taking proper precautionary measures.