military4

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

Nago's new U.S. air base with V-shaped runways will cause major noise pollution

Data from test flights show that the new U.S. air base the Japanese and U.S. governments are planning to construct in Nago City in Okinawa Prefecture will cause unbearable noise pollution to nearby residents under the new plan to equip the base with two 'V'-shaped runways.

Akahata discovered this in the data compiled by the Naha Defense Facilities Administration Bureau concerning the test flights conducted on March 10, 2001 with four large U.S. helicopters from the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.

The highest noise level recorded was 83 decibels in the Henoko district of Nago City and 89 decibels in the Matsuda district. Noise levels ranging between 80-85 decibels are almost equal to noise in subway trains or heavily trafficked roads.

At most of the 15 locations surveyed, the noise level far exceeded the government's environmental regulation standard of less than 60 decibels in residential areas.

The test flights were made in four courses, 1.1, 1.4, 2, and 3 kilometers away from the Henoko district, which is just about 1 kilometer away from a new flight course from the new V-shaped runways.

The test flight area just overlaps with the area of the new base. Therefore, it is highly possible that the 2001 noise data reflects the actual noise levels in Nago's residential areas if the U.S. air base will operate.

The data show that the shoreline base plan agreed on between the Defense Agency chief and the mayor of Nago is very problematic and dangerous.
-Akahata, April 14, 2006