Analysis of Risk Management Framework Through Revising Process of Environmental Quality Standards. K. Yamazaki, Environment Agency of Japan, 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8975 Japan
Environmental Quality Standards are defined as desirable levels to protect public health and living environment according to the Basic Environment Law in Japan. They are distinguished from tolerable limits and their values are to be determined exclusively through the consideration of health and the environment. They serve simultaneously as goals for the national government. They can be used as regulatory upper limits in the environmental impact assessment of development projects. After twenty-two months discussion the Central Environment Council issued their recommendation to the Director General of the Environment Agency in May 1998 to revise the Environmental Quality Standards for Noise into those expressed by equivalent sound pressure levels (Leq) from the present ones by median levels (L50). How to set new standards was controversial because prospects of their attainment in roadside areas would be obscure in a highly populated country if they were properly determined on their definition as desirable levels. Their role as regulatory upper limits for road construction was considered crucial. Compliance with them implies that the state of the environment is kept within desirable levels and that the government need not take more regulatory measures. The updating process of the Environmental Quality Standards for Noise would be a good example to examine the risk management framework prepared by the national government.
Go to . . .