AR-News: (Japan) Gifu ordered to reveal environment documents

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Asahi.com
 
June 30,2004
    The Asahi Shimbun   
____________________________________
 
The Supreme Court backs bid to release withheld data on a huge highway  
project.  
The Supreme Court on Tuesday nullified a 1998 decision by the governor  of 
Gifu Prefecture to shield unofficial environmental documents on a  controversial 
road project from public scrutiny, reversing earlier  district and high court 
rulings.  
Experts expect the ruling to pave the way for citizens nationwide to  
scrutinize local government procedures for giving the green light to  similar 
projects.The documents include behind-the-scenes details on how  the environmental 
impact of the planned Tokai Loop Highway in Nagoya was  assessed.  
Governor Taku Kajiwara had refused to release the working-level  documents, 
which were used to compile the formal report that was made  public.  
The top court's ruling countered rulings by the Gifu District Court and  the 
Nagoya High Court.  
``We cannot say disclosing the documents leads to a situation in which  it 
would be difficult for the Gifu governor to carry out the intent of his  or her 
government,'' Presiding Judge Toshihiro Kanatani said.  

full  story:
_http://www.asahi.com/english/nation/TKY200406300136.html_ 
(http://www.asahi.com/english/nation/TKY200406300136.html)  



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