The Forums

Improper Handling of Excavated Soil in Maglev Tunnel Construction, Lead Soil Contamination Exceeds Standard, Yamanashi Prefecture Announces

Yamanashi Prefecture announced on April 17 that JR Tokai reported improper handling of excavated soil during construction of the Linear Central Shinkansen Line, and that a soil survey conducted by JR Tokai found that lead contamination exceeded the standards of the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law.

The problem occurred at a construction site for the installation of a bridge over the Chuo Expressway in Sakaimikawa-cho, Fuefuki-shi, in the same prefecture. JR Tokai investigated and found that the soil was contaminated by lead. JR Tokai has already begun to improve the storage method of the excavated soil in accordance with the conservation plan.

In order to confirm the impact on the surrounding environment, the prefectural government has conducted water quality surveys of the soil at two locations in the temporary storage area and the nearby river. The results of the water quality tests are expected to be available within the week, and the soil within two weeks, and will be announced as soon as the results are known.

Source: https://www.msn.com/ja-jp/news/national ... r-AA1zcOLN# Accessed 2025-02-17

Excavated Soil at Linear Chuo Shinkansen Construction Site Stored "Improperly"

At the construction site for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen in Fuefuki City, it was discovered that a contractor commissioned by JR Tokai had stored excavated soil in violation of the environmental protection plan. It was found that lead levels exceeding the standard were detected in the soil. The prefecture has stated that it will investigate the potential impact on the surrounding area and will release the results once they are available.

According to the prefecture, at the construction site in Fuefuki City's Sakaigawa-cho Fujimaki, the contractor hired by JR Tokai had stored excavated soil without following the method outlined in the "Environmental Protection Plan," which was designed to mitigate environmental impacts. The plan requires that the excavated soil be stored on a ground covered with iron plates and sheets until it can be confirmed that it does not contain harmful substances. However, in this case, the soil was directly placed on the ground without the required iron plates and sheets.

On the 17th, JR Tokai notified the prefecture that the soil excavated from the site contained lead levels 1.8 times higher than the standard. The prefecture has asked JR Tokai to ensure the proper handling of the excavated soil. Additionally, since there is a possibility that lead may have seeped into the area where the soil was directly placed, the prefecture will conduct investigations on the surrounding soil and rivers. The results will be made public as soon as they are available.

Info based on: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/kofu/20250 ... 25747.html Accessed: February 18, 2025

Improper Handling of Hazardous Soil in Linear Project

In February 2025, a significant issue was uncovered during the construction of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, involving the improper handling of hazardous construction soil. The construction waste, which contained harmful substances like lead, was not managed according to environmental safety guidelines. Contractors hired for the project had stored the contaminated soil improperly at a worksite, violating the environmental conservation plan established by JR Tokai, the company overseeing the project. The issue has raised concerns about the potential for future environmental contamination, prompting local authorities to demand a full investigation into the cause.

The problem came to light in the area of Fuefuki City, specifically at a bridge construction site spanning the Chuo Expressway. On February 8, 2025, contractors temporarily stored soil contaminated with lead at the site without adhering to the prescribed safety measures outlined in the environmental conservation plan. The plan required the use of permeation-preventing sheets and steel plates to securely store the hazardous soil. However, in practice, the soil was left exposed on the ground without any protective measures. A subsequent investigation on February 14 revealed that the lead levels in the soil exceeded environmental safety limits by 1.8 times, a concerning violation of the established guidelines.

Upon learning of the issue, JR Tokai reported the incident to Yamanashi Prefecture on February 17. The local authorities quickly responded by conducting water quality tests at three nearby river sites, all of which confirmed that water quality standards had not been exceeded. The prefectural officials also visited the site to verify that the storage conditions for the soil had been improved. Despite this, the prefecture emphasized the need to understand the root cause of the mishandling to prevent future incidents.

The issue with the hazardous soil was not limited to this site. In another location in Hayakawa Town, hazardous substances, including arsenic, were found in groundwater beneath a temporary storage site for the soil. On February 19, JR Tokai reported that arsenic levels in the groundwater exceeded environmental standards by 1.2 times. While it was speculated that the arsenic might have been naturally occurring in the soil, the prefecture requested that JR Tokai investigate further to ensure that the contamination was not linked to improper handling.

Info based on https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/389605 Accessed 2025-03-05

. The planned site for the Linear construction waste disposal area, which Shizuoka City has been discussing regarding safety and other concerns = Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, in 2021.
Source: https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/389605 Accessed 2025-03-05