Even before drinking water standards for volatile organic substances were established in December 1992 under the Waterworks Law, we conducted regular tests of groundwater at all of our sites.
In acquiring ISO 14001 certification for each site, we reviewed chemical substances that had been used in the past and conducted voluntary environmental impact studies of soil and groundwater as needed.

Voluntary environmental impact studies

Boring surveys and other tests are conducted at sites that require further investigation, and in cases when we determine that cleanup measures are needed, we report our findings to local government authorities and proceed with the cleanup operations under their guidance.

Example of an environmental study

Zama Operation Center: We conducted a voluntary survey and completed a remediation process based on the survey findings. Later, however, when we were planning to sell a part of District 1, a survey conducted in accordance with the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law revealed partial contamination with VOCs* and heavy metals. We reported this to the regulatory authority in March 2006. Although the contaminated area was covered with a concrete slab so that there was no danger of these substances drifting into the atmosphere, a remediation process was completed according to the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law in fiscal 2007.

• * Volatile organic compounds: The volatile organic compounds referred to here are tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and 1.1.1 trichloroethane.

We no longer use volatile organic compounds that are regulated by environmental standards.

The impact of chlorinated organic compounds on soil and groundwater, and measures taken to address contamination

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