The objective of this project is to research the earthquake- caused hazardous materials incidents that Japan has experienced, the root cause of those problems, and the solutions developed as a result. The data obtained will be analyzed and compared to information that is available on U.S. earthquakes, especially the Loma Prieta Earthquake. Japanese codes and regulations that are specifically aimed at reducing earthquake-caused hazardous materials incidents will be identified. Organizations and regulatory bodies that are responsible for overseeing implementation of hazard reduction measures will be identified, and their specific role examined. The detailed information that is available in Japan, combined with the information on the technical solutions developed in Japan, will be of value to U.S. researchers and safety professionals interested in hazardous materials issues. Based on the analysis, recommendations for hazard reduction efforts and future research will be formulated. An annotated bibliography and a computerized data base of Japanese earthquake-caused hazardous materials incidents, a compilation of solutions developed, and a final report will be published.
