Press Releases（Archive）
FY2012 - FY2003

Authorization for Special-Purpose River Water Use at Shinanogawa Power Plant

East Japan Railway Company
June 9, 2010

On this day, 9 June 2010, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) received authorization from the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau for special-purpose river water rights for the Shinanogawa Power Plant (collective name for the Senju, Ojiya and Shin-Ojiya power plants) under Article 23 of the River Law.


On 10 March 2009, the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau issued an order revoking authorization for special-purpose use of river water, leading the station to halt water intake. Subsequently, JR East has filed the following documents:


  • Report on documents, etc., relating to structures newly built or remodeled without permission
     
  • Report on measures to prevent recurrence of improper water intake at Shinanogawa Power Plant
     

In addition, we reached agreement with all concerned users of the river, and on 2 April of this year applied for authorization at the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau.


Since the cessation of water intake, we regret the inconvenience caused the concerned parties, and at the same time would like to express our gratitude for all the assistance and understanding we have been given to make this day possible.


Hereafter, JR East commits itself not only to carefully manage river flow and water intake in accordance with the law, but also to sustain plant operations in harmony with the environment of the Shinanogawa River and to cooperate with the local community. We will strive with heartfelt sincerity to achieve these purposes.

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Authorization for special-purpose river water use (overview)
   
• Maximum water intake: 316.96 m3/second
   
• 40 m3/second will be released to maintain the river level (this volume of water is to be continuously released below Miyanaka Dam)
   
• To study policies for the coordination of water use with the riparian environment of the Shinanogawa River, we will practice test release volumes from the Miyanaka Dam of at least the amounts shown in the attachment in order to study the river environment
   
• The period of authorization is until 30 June 2015
   
• At the time of the next renewal of this authorization, results of the test releases and the opinion of the Shinanogawa River Middle Basin Water Environment Improvement Review Council, which is to verify the test release study, will be taken into account and, if necessary, the Miyagawa Dam releases, etc., may also be reviewed before renewal
   
• The following measures will be taken to ensure that violation of the River Law does not recur.
     
• Continuous implementation of recurrence prevention measures which have been laid out, and reporting of implementation status to the director of the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau
     
• Implementation of self-initiated inspections of water intake reports to confirm their appropriateness, and the report of inspection results to the director of the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau
   

[Attachment]
Period Test release volumes (m3/s)
Year 1 (intake starting date -31 March 2011)
Year 2 (1 April 2011 – 31 March 2012) Year 3 (1 April 2012 – 31 March 2013) Year 4
(1 April 2013 – 31 March 2014)		 Year 5
(1 April 2014 - end of authorization period)
1 April –
19 July		 50.0 50.0 40.0 1 April – 30 November: 40.0 or greater (releases will be in consideration of changes in flow)
1 December – 31 March of following year: 40.0		 Release volume will be in consideration of test release results through
year 4
20 July –
10 September		 80.0 80.0 60.0
11 September – 10 November 100.0 80.0 60.0
11 November – 31 March of following year 50.0 50.0 40.0

Note: Test release volumes include the 40 m3/second for maintaining river levels.

 

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