Pollution Prevention Agreement

Japanese: 公害防止協定 - こうがいぼうしきょうてい

An agreement between local governments, national government agencies, and other administrative agencies and companies that generate pollution, regarding the prevention of pollution. In some cases, it is also made with residents' groups regarding pollution sources, especially waste incineration plants set up by local governments. Originally, the regulations under national laws were insufficient, and the regulations of local governments were limited, making it difficult to prevent pollution. Therefore, local governments made agreements with pollution sources to demand compliance with stricter standards than those stipulated by laws. Since Tokyo Metropolitan Government first made agreements with Tokyo Electric Power Company and then Tokyo Gas in 1968, local governments across the country have been discussing and setting agreements with polluting companies within their jurisdiction, and have achieved great results. The idea behind this is that local governments, representing the general will of the local residents, enter into agreements with polluters who are responsible for their activities as members of the community, in order to maintain a good local environment. There are three theories about the legal nature of this agreement: the administrative contract theory, the private law contract theory, and the gentleman's agreement theory. However, it should be interpreted according to the contents of the agreement.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

地方自治体や国の機関などの行政庁が，公害発生企業との間に，公害防止に関して結ぶ協定。公害発生源，特に地方自治体が設置する清掃工場に関して，住民団体との間に結ぶ場合もある。元来，国の法令による規制が不十分なため，かえって地方自治体の規制が限定されて，公害防止の実効が期せられないことから，地方自治体が公害発生源と協定して，法令よりもきびしい基準の遵守を求めたものである。 1968年東京都がまず東京電力と，次いで東京ガスと締結して以来，全国の自治体が管内の公害企業と話合って定めるようになり，大きな成果を収めた。いわば地方自治体が地域住民の総意を代表して，地域の一員としてその活動に責任を有する公害発生者との間に，地域の環境を良好に保つことができるように，合意の協定を結ぶことがその理念である。その法的性格については，行政契約説，私法上の契約説，紳士協定説など3説があるが，その協定の内容によって解すべきであろう。

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