Fourth Atsugi suit filed to restrict military flights

[unhappycamper]

Fourth Atsugi suit filed to restrict military flights
By Hana Kusumoto, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Monday, December 17, 2007

TOKYO — More than 6,000 residents living near Naval Air Facility Atsugi were to file a class-action suit Monday against the Japanese government seeking damages for U.S. military aircraft noise, according to the plaintiffs’ group leader.

The suit, the fourth of its kind by Atsugi area residents, seeks 4.65 billion yen (about $41.4 million) in damages allegedly incurred over the past three years, said Eiji Fujita.

However, that amount may change if additional residents join the lawsuit, he said.

Residents also want a ban on military flights between 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., Fujita said, and are demanding no flights of aircraft with engine noise exceeding 70 decibels at any time of day.

“No improvements have been made (to reduce the noise)” since the last lawsuit closed in July 2006, Fujita said. “Although number of flights has declined recently, we cannot feel it.”


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51034