U.S.

, Japan to Negotiate Environmental Stewardship Pact

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25, 2013 The Department of Defense welcomes the
announcement today in Tokyo that the United States and Japan will negotiate a
framework to further address environmental stewardship of United States military
activities in Japan, according to a DOD news release issued today.
"The United States Armed Forces appreciates its close partnership with Japanese
Self Defense Forces and the government of Japan," Hagel said in the release.
Hagel added, "This framework will help guide our activities going forward related to
our shared goal of reducing impact to Japan's precious natural landscape as we
continue to conduct operations that provide for the common defense of Japan. This
is yet another step we are taking together in order to update and modernize our
alliance to ensure it is able meet the security challenges of the 21st century."
This framework will include a bilateral agreement that will supplement the JapanU.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), and will apply to all U.S. activities across
Japan, including Okinawa, the DOD release said.
The Embassy of the United States in Tokyo, Japan, today issued a news release
about the framework.
Here is the text of the U.S. Embassys release:
The Government of Japan and the U.S. Government recognize the two Governments
successful efforts on the environment, including 36 years of close cooperation in the
Environmental Subcommittee and other relevant subcommittees of the Joint
Committee, as well as the implementation of the Joint Statement of Environmental
Principles announced in 2000. Bearing in mind such bilateral efforts on the
environment, the two Governments reached a common view on the significance of
further strengthening bilateral cooperation in this field by recognizing the
importance of the environmentally friendly operations of U.S. Forces in Japan, as
well as by enhancing positive relations between local communities and U.S. Forces
in Japan. Regarding U.S. Armed Forces facilities and areas scheduled for return,
including those identified in the 2013 Consolidation Plan for Facilities and Areas in
Okinawa, the Government of Japan affirmed its responsibility for environmental
restoration.
Based upon the above mentioned shared view, the two Governments announce the
launch of bilateral consultations towards producing a framework further addressing
environmental stewardship relating to U.S. Armed Forces facilities and areas in
Japan. This framework is to include a bilateral agreement that would supplement

the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) as well as other documents. The
two Governments understand that the consultations are to be conducted based on
the following:
1. Recognition of the importance of environmental protection and its contribution to
managing risk to human health and safety. The two Governments affirmed their
continuing commitment to implement the Joint Statement of Environmental
Principles.
2. Application by U.S. Forces in Japan of high environmental standards:
A. U.S. Forces in Japan, in accordance with U.S. policy, apply the Japan
Environmental Governing Standards (JEGS), which are drawn from the more
protective of U.S. standards, generally applied and enforced Japanese national
standards, or any applicable international agreement standards.
B. The U.S. Governments review of local installation procedures periodically to
ensure consistency with the JEGS, and to communicate that report to the Joint
Committee.
3. Producing uniform procedures for reasonable host nation access to facilities and
areas:
A. Following a contemporaneous environmental incident, i.e., a spill;
B. For site surveys associated with land returns as announced in the October 3,
2013, Security Consultative Committee (SCC) Joint Statement.
4. Commitment by the Government of Japan to take measures to support
environmentally friendly projects by U.S. Forces in Japan as well as to enhance
positive relations between local communities and U.S. Forces in Japan, in close
consultation with the U.S. Government. Measures to be taken by the Government of
Japan include:
A. Taking new environment-related financial measures additional to the current
Facilities Improvement Program (FIP), which the Government of Japan committed to
under the June 21, 2011, SCC document on Host Nation Support (HNS).
B. Assuming costs for other environmental measures within the U.S. Armed Forces
facilities and areas under a new framework constituting an additional exception
relating to Article XXIV of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
C. Taking environmental measures around the U.S. Armed Forces facilities and areas
to improve further environmentally friendly living conditions of both local
communities and those within the U.S. Armed Forces facilities and areas.