July 29, 2010
Naha, Okinawa Pref., July 29 (Jiji Press) -- The Naha branch of Fukuoka High Court ruled Thursday that the Japanese government should pay some 369 million yen in damages to residents suffering from noise pollution caused by the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan.
The figure is higher than a lower court ruling of about 146 million yen. The suit was filed by 387 residents living near the base in Ginowan.
The high court recognized low-frequency sound from U.S. military helicopters as noise pollution in addition to noise of fighter jets and other military aircraft.
But the ruling turned down plaintiff demands for a halt to nighttime and early morning flights at the Futenma base, as did the lower court ruling.
The plaintiffs have sought a halt to such flights, a noise measuring test by the central government and compensation for further suffering. They have also claimed that the 146 million yen in compensation was low for such noise pollution.
(2010/07/29-19:30)
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