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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Government fails to grasp effects of U.S. touch-and-go exercises

The Defense Facilities Administration Agency (DFAA) on December 21 said that the U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture is a suitable site for the aircraft carrier air wing to be relocated from the U.S. Atsugi Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The view was expressed in the DFAA's response to questions from 3 municipalities hosting the Iwakuni base concerning the Japan-U.S. interim report on U.S. forces realignment. The government answered 26 out of 33 questions jointly compiled by the governments of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Iwakuni City, and Yu Town.

In its answer, the DFAA stressed that when the construction of a new off-shore runway in the Iwakuni base is completed in 2008, noise pollution and the danger of accidents will be reduced.

It also stated, however, that the government does not understand the exact situation of the touch-and-go exercises (night landing practices) the aircraft carrier air wing are carrying out at the Atsugi base because "it deals with the operation of the U.S. forces."
- Akahata, December 22, 2005