Transparency at Risk: Blacked-Out Documents in Osaka Izumi City Incinerator Issue

Concerns about reputational damage also arise

In the first part of the article titled “The ‘Information Disclosure Trouble’ Erupting in Izumi City, Osaka, as the Construction of an Industrial Waste Incinerator Progresses Without Citizens’ Knowledge,” the shocking situation is revealed where many residents in Izumi City, Osaka, are unaware of the ongoing construction of an industrial waste incinerator.

Read the first part of the article “‘I Didn’t Know Industrial Waste Incinerators Were Being Built’ The Serious Internal Situation of the ‘Information Disclosure Trouble’ Unfolding in Izumi City, Osaka.”

The article further explores how the construction of the large-scale incinerator has caused turmoil among residents. In response to concerns about environmental pollution, a citizens’ movement has emerged, and local citizens, including city council members from neighboring Kishiwada City, have requested information disclosure from the government. However, the documents that were released were heavily redacted.

Akiki Harumasu (31), who represents the residents’ movement, stated:

“Unfortunately, I only learned about the incinerator construction plan from a friend. Many citizens are unaware of the plan, and I questioned whether it was right to continue pushing forward with the project under these circumstances. The authorities may want to proceed quietly, citing compliance with national standards, but the residents and local business owners are not easily convinced.”

Harumasu, a farmer who grows vegetables and runs a natural food and health product store, is concerned that the construction of the incinerator could negatively impact his business.

“I fear that reputational damage could spread. The fact that most farmers are unaware of the plan is problematic. While I understand that stopping the project may be difficult, we will push for changes to the height of the incinerator’s smokestack to prevent the effects of dioxins,” he said.

As a result of these voices from citizens’ groups, a city council member requested information disclosure from the government to understand the safety standards of the project. However, as mentioned earlier, the documents returned were heavily redacted. The Osaka Prefectural government, which issues the permits, explained the situation as follows:

“The minutes of the review meetings are available on the Osaka Prefecture website and can be accessed by anyone. However, these meetings, which involve expert opinions and detailed sub-committees, are generally closed to the public. The redacted sections correspond to these review meetings. Since technical discussions are held during these meetings, releasing the information could reveal business operators’ technical details, which makes full disclosure difficult.”

The government official further explained that the environmental assessment is currently in its final stages. Regarding the citizens’ group request to reconsider the regulations, the official stated:

“We have received the request to raise the height of the smokestack. However, the experts in the review meetings have determined that the current planned height is adequate, and we anticipate proceeding with the plan as it is.”