1. PRTR data application for local environmental management
November 2018
Masayuki SEKIGUCHI
Ministry of the Environment Japan

2. Background of the Project
PRTR is composed of emission data at the local or community level and has a huge potential to inform decision making and policy setting pertaining to local environmental management.
However, utilization of PRTR data by local governments is not uniform and in many cases PRTR data is not actively utilized.
It is important to demonstrate the benefits of PRTR data usage for local environmental management by the local governments.
At the 18th meeting of the Task Force on PRTRs held in November 2015, Japan presented this new project on compiling information on PRTR data application for local environmental management. The TF-PRTR members agreed with the project, and also agreed to provide their response to the questionnaire prepared by the lead country. See [ENV/JM/PRTR(2015)1] and the presentation at the 18th meeting on Clearspace for more information).

3. Objectives of the Project
This project aims to promote PRTR data application by local governments for local environmental management (e.g. evaluation of the environmental condition, plan and implementation of policy measures, risk communication) by providing and sharing good practices across the OECD members.
Local governments are the primary beneficiary of this project since the outputs of the project will bring new ideas and decrease barriers to further promote PRTR data application for local environmental management.
National governments could gain insights to take possible actions in order to support and promote PRTR data application by local governments.

4. Outline of the Project
1st Survey - Questionnaire survey from 20 May to 30 June, 2016
2nd Survey - Follow-up Questionnaire survey from 2 November to 16 December, Web survey by lead country
Drafting the result document

5. Results of the Surveys
1st Survey (20 May to 30 June, 2016) - 10 case examples in total provided by Canada, Czech Republic, United States and Japan
2nd Survey (2 November to 16 December, 2017) - Additional 34 case examples provided by Japan - 7 case examples via the web survey by lead county
In total 51 case examples

6. Analysis of case examples
Lead country;
Categorized provided examples into categories and sub-categories; and
Abstracted good examples, which shows more concrete application in the sub-categories.
Category
Sub-category No
Environmental Improvements
Index for environmental improvement 3
Regulatory Compliance
Inspection and direction for facilities
Tracking record of lands 1
Identification of polluters (e.g. by accident)
Development of Policies and Regulations
Prioritization for environmental monitoring items
Prioritization for new policies and regulations 2
Research and study
Programme Evaluation
Right-to-know (public information)
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment
Education
Seminar
Total 19

7. Case example
Regulatory Compliance – Formaldehyde accident of 2012 in Japan
In May 2010, Formaldehyde exceeding the Drinking Water Quality Standard was detected in water treatment plants of the Tone River water system.
Water intake was stopped at eight water treatment plants of Tokyo and four other prefectures.
On May 19th -20th , 360,000 houses (870,000 people) in 5 cities within Chiba Prefecture were affected by water stoppage or water reduction.

8. Case example Chlorination Tone River Industrial Plant
Industrial waste disposal facility
Water treatment plant
Chlorination
Formaldehyde （water quality standard exists）
Hexamethylenetetramine (HMT)
（water quality standard did not exist）
Use of PRTR data
・ Identification of the source of contamination within the
municipality
・Action on other non-regulated substances for which quality
standards have not been set
<Based on document provided by Bureau of Waterworks Tokyo Metropolitan Government>