Nissan Motor Company released the results today of their final report on the results of the environmental survey at the Murayama plant site and announced plans for future reclamation of the property to the appropriate authorities.
In April and August of 2001, the company presented interim reports on implementation of environmental surveys at the site as well as a full-scale investigation covering the entire plant site that has been conducted since Murayama stopped production activities. Today's covers final results of the investigation and reclamation plans.
The survey is based on the "Survey and Countermeasure Guidelines for Soil and Groundwater Contamination" from the Ministry of Environment. Nissan Motor has been working to implement actions called for by the Ministry as detailed in the "Provisions on Soil and Groundwater Contamination" as proscribed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Ordinance on Environment to Preserve Public Health and Safety" that will take effect on October of 2001. The survey covered 2,837 points in 1,238 locations covering the whole site area of the former Murayama plant and involved a soil contamination survey for 20 substances including volatile organic compounds (VOC), heavy metals and dioxin etc.
In the survey, levels of contaminants exceeding environmental standards were detected in soil in localized points within the site. However it was determined that at this stage no contamination has spread outside the site. Contaminants exceeding environmental standards were found in groundwater at three locations, however contamination levels in areas near the site boundary were below the required standards.
In the past, Nissan disposed of waste material produced from the plant within an industrial waste processing site located on - site at the Murayama plan. These waste products will be removed and taken to a processing plant located elsewhere for treatment.
Nissan has developed and begun implementation of a strategy for future permanent decontamination and removal of contaminated soil and groundwater from the site. The plan is based on the company's "Environmental Action Plan" that provides guidelines on the environmental activities based on the results of the survey. Reclamation for areas where production has ceased will begin mid-October with a goal of completing by the end of next July. Remaining efforts should be completed within a year from the time final production ceases.
For areas of partially contaminated soil, localized decontamination processes to prevent the spread of the problem are already underway and the company is taking every precaution to ensure that no contamination spreads beyond the site.
Measures for Future Implementation (Specific Reclamation)
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For VOC contaminants, an in oxidative degradation method and a vacuum bleeding method will be applied as well as pumping and aeration to separate VOC, with decontamination processes implemented through activated carbon.
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Soil contaminated with heavy metals will be excavated and transported to an external location for final processing and burial.
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Soil contaminated with dioxins will be excavated and removed and held under secure storage inside factory buildings until a suitable processing method is ascertained.
In addition to implementing tight precautions to prevent dispersal of contaminants to surrounding areas..
Based on the company's "Environmental Action Plan" Nissan Motor Co. Ltd is working to implement environmentally conscious activities in a variety of fields including production, product development, sales and service.
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