2.6. Recent Topics in Japanese Ports and Harbors

2.6.2 New systems

The FY2002budget plan, which was approved by the cabinet on December 24 2001, approved the new systems described below.

<Port and harbor projects>
1. Establishment of a support system to build a recycle material distribution system
We will take support measures as required, by adding, to facilities apecified by the Private Participation Promotional Law, facilities designed to reduce the amounts of waste and to render it harmless since such facilities contribute to increasing the service life of waste disposal facilities constructed at ports and harbors in order to promote urban redevelopment, for example, through the creation of cities with wide-area resources circulating economies.

2. Expansion of the target area for specific private-sector urban development projects in three major cities
We will expand target areas for specific private-sector urban development projects, which are allowed to be carried out only within specific ports and harbors development districts located in waterfront areas of three major cities (Tokyo's 23 wards, the City of Osaka and the City of Nagoya (the old urban area)) in order to further promote private-sector urban development in the water-front areas of large cities and to increase the number of priority development districts specified in the construction plan for comprehensive recycle material distribution centers.

3. Expansion of the support system for cresting barrier-free port and harbor facilities
We will reduce the loan rate of the Development Bank of Japan, applicable to construction projects for barrier-free facilities such as passenger terminal facilities, among core facility' construction projects to contribute to the advancement of port and harbor functions, from 1.95% (Policy Loan Rate II) to 1.80% (Policy Loan Rate III)*. This is aimed at accelerating the construction of barrier free facilities by private sector businesses in view of the introduction of new regulations, starting in May, 2002, to make it compulsory to build barrier-free facilities when building new passenger facilities.
The standard rate for 20-year loans (with three-year deferments period) to be amortized through principal-equal monthly payment (as of 4 January 2002)

<Coastal projects>
(1) Establishment of the projects to advance coastal risk-management functions (jointly by the ministries and agencies responsible for coastal projects)
We will establish a new system--projects to advance coastal risk management functions?designed to build risk-management passages that can be used for quick evacuation of coast users during emergency' situations and for emergency restoration, which are connected to the background roads.
This is aimed at promoting the advancement of risk-management functions in coastal areas form both the perspective of infrastructures and systems, in addition to the construction of coastal conservation facilities, while ensuring compatibility with local disaster prevention plans.

(2) Expansion of eco-coast projects (jointly by ministries and agencies responsible for coastal projects).
--Promotion of resident-participated coastal projects--
We will establish a new system-resident-participated eco-coast projects-designed to expand conventional eco-coast projects and construct more appropriate facilities based on interviews with resident groups, including NPOs, conducted during the formulation of plans, the implementation of monitoring participated in by resident groups in pilot Project areas, and their results. This is aimed at promoting the construction of coastal 'areas that harmonize with the natural environment.
*NPO: Non-profit making organization (private sector organizations involved in non-profit making activities such as volunteer activities)

(3) Investigations to examine coastal conservation programs that cope with the rise in sea level accompanying the global warming trend (jointly by ministries and agencies responsible for coastal projects)
The 3rd report by IPCC (released in April 2001) forecasts a maximum 88-centimeter rise in sea level by 2100 (average global). It giving rise to international concern over the effects of global warming on disaster prevention and the environment.
We will examine the coastal conservation program to cope with the rise in sea level and other problems that incorporate short-, mid- and long-term coastal conservation facility construction plans, in response to the effects of the rise in sea level accompanying the global warming trend and related onshore protection and use and environmental issues.

(4) Investigation of measures to protect against high tides from a system perspective The rick of large-scale high-tide disasters has increased in recent years in proportion to the increase in the population of urban waterfront areas and to the deterioration of coastal conservation facilities.
For this reason, there is widespread need for high-tide hazard maps that indicate methods of evacuation during high tides and evacuation locations and that can be readily understood by coastal users.
To support the production of high-water hazard maps. The investigations, are aimed at developing new techniques for calculating the depth of flooding due to high tides as well as establishing techniques to forecast high-tide flooding conditions targeting coastal areas under zero elevation in order.

(5) Establishment of integrated subsidies for construction projects for sea wall to develop government owned land (Jointly by ministries and agencies related to coastal projects)

Overview of the system
In view of the purport of the 2nd Decentralization Promotion Plan approved by the cabinet in March, 1999, we will ensure the proper functioning of coastal conservation facilities, while respecting the autonomy of each local government, by setting up integrated subsidies for construction projects for shore protection to develop government-owned land among coastal projects.

1. Details
The construction projects for sea wall to develop government-owned land designed for such shore protection, are carried out in conjunction with land reclamation by local governments in areas behind shore protection. These projects will be systematically carried out at the discretion of local governments, based on the principle' that the government will not specify locations.

(1) Target projects
Construction projects for sea wall to develop government-owned land among coastal projects
(2) Target facilities
Coastal conservation facilities managed by coastal administrators

2. Business entity
Local governments

3. Subsidizing rate
4/10