Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc.

Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. Environmental Action Report 2007

Chronology

Developments at home and abroad Our efforts to deal with environmental issues
1951 Nine electric power companies founded. 1951 Tohoku EPCo inaugurated.
1958 Electric precipitators installed. (Hachinohe Thermal PS)
1962 “Smoke and Soot Emissions Control Law” enacted. 1963 Domestic natural gas-fired power generation introduced. (Niigata Thermal PS)
1967 “Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control” enacted. 1967 Experimental aquaculture of abalones by using thermal effluent commenced. (Sendai Thermal PS)
1968 “Air Pollution Control Law” enacted. 1969 The first agreement on prevention of environmental pollution signed.
1968 “Noise Control Law” enacted.    
1970 “Water Pollution Control Law” enacted. 1971 Environmental Pollution Control Office created in Corporate Planning Department.
1970 “Wastes Disposal and Public Cleaning Law” enacted. 1973 Plant Siting & Environmental Affairs Department created.
1971 Environment Agency established. 1974 Operation of first flue-gas desulfurization equipment started. (Hachinohe Thermal PS)
1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment takes place in Stockholm. 1978 Commercial operation of Unit 1 of Kakkonda Geothermal PS started.
1972 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established.    
1973 The first oil crisis occurred.    
1974 International Energy Agency (IEA) established.    
1974 Control of total emissions of SOx implemented.    
1979 IEA announces a policy to prohibit energy firms from building new oil-fired power plants.    
1979 The second oil crisis occurred.    
1981 Control of total emissions of NOx implemented. 1984 “International Trade and Industry Minister Prize” awarded for good greening plant. (Akita Thermal PS)
1984 Cabinet decision on “Guidelines on Implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment” made. 1984 LNG-fired power generation introduced. (Higashi-Niigata Thermal PS)
1985 “Vienna Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer” adopted. 1984 Commercial operation of gas combined cycle started. (Higashi-Niigata Thermal PS 3 System)
1987 “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer” adopted. 1984 Unit 1 of Onagawa Nuclear Power Station commences commercial operation.
1988 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) formed. 1985 “International Trade and Industry Minister Prize” awarded for good plant of energy management. (Shin-Sendai Thermal PS)
1988 “Law concerning the Protection of the Ozone Layer through the Control of Specified Substances and Other Measures” enacted. 1986 Ranked first among nine Japanese electric power companies in terms of thermal efficiency of thermal power generation equipment in FY1985 (38.60%).
(The first rank maintained until FY1987)
1989 “Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal” adopted. 1987 Performance demonstration tests of electric vehicle commenced. (General Research Institute)
1990 Cabinet decision on “Action Programme to Arrest Global Warming” made. 1990 “Council to Promote Measures to Cope with Global Environment Issues” formed.
1991 “Resource Recycling Law” enacted. 1990 Demonstration tests of CO2 removal and sequestration technology commenced. (Sendai Thermal PS)
1991 Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) formulates “Global Environment Charter.” 1992 “Global Environment Action Guideline” formulated.
1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) takes place in Rio de Janeiro (“Rio Declaration” and “Agenda 21” adopted). 1992 Internal environmental auditing introduced.
1993 “Basic Environment Law” enacted. 1992 Demonstration tests of wind power generation (Tappi Wind Park), photovoltaic power generation and fuel cells (Sendai Minami Customer Services Office) commenced.
1994 “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” takes effect. 1992 Heat supply service in the Sendai-Izumi-chuo district started.
1994 Cabinet decision on “Basic Environment Plan” made. 1993 “Phase I of Global Environmental Action Plan” commenced.
1995 First Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP1) takes place in Berlin. 1993 Noshiro Energium Park opens. (Noshiro Thermal PS)
1996 Second Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP2) takes place in Geneva. 1995 “Phase II of Global Environmental Action Plan” commenced.
1996 The Japan Federation of Electric Power Companies formulates “Environmental Action Plan by the Japanese Electricity Utilities Industry.” 1996 Niigata-Sendai gas pipeline completed.
1997 Third Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) takes place in Kyoto (the “Kyoto Protocol” adopted). 1997 Heat supply service started in the Morioka-eki Nishiguchi district.
1997 Keidanren formulates “Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment.” 1998 “Phase III of Global Environmental Action Plan” commenced.
1997 “Environmental Impact Assessment Law” enacted. 1998 “Environmental Policy” formulated.
1998 Fourth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP4) takes place in Buenos Aires (“Buenos Aires Plan of Action𔄭 adopted). 1998 ISO 14001 acquired by Noshiro Thermal Power Station.
1998 “Guideline of Measures to Prevent Global Warming” decided. 1999 Operation of Higashi-Niigata Thermal Power Station 4-1 System commenced.
1998 “Law concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming” enacted. 1999 Capital participation and investment made in tree-planting project in Australia.
1999 Fifth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP5) takes place in Bonn.    
1999 “Law concerning Special Measures against Dioxins” enacted.    
1999 “Law concerning Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR)” enacted.    
2000 The World Bank establishes the Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF). 2000 Takes part in the World Bank Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF).
2000 Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP6) takes place in Hague. 2000 ISO 14001 acquired by Niigata, Hachinohe, Haramachi and Sendai Thermal Power Stations.
2000 “Basic Law for Promoting the Creation of a Recycling-Oriented Society” enacted. 2000 Internal standard environmental management system introduced.
2001 COP6 bis held in Bonn. 2000 Tohoku Green Power Fund founded.
2001 Seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP7) takes place in Marrakesh. 2001 ISO 14001 acquired by Onagawa Nuclear Power Station, and Higashi-Niigata, Akita and Shin-Sendai Thermal Power Stations.
(ISO 14001 certification given to all of Tohoku EPCo's thermal and nuclear power stations)
2001 Ministry of the Environment established to take over operations implemented by Environment Agency. 2001 “Mid-Term Environmental Action Plan” formulated.
2001 “Law concerning Special Measures for Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCB Waste” enacted. 2001 Environment Minister's Commendation awarded for activities to prevent the global warming in the international contribution category.
(“Local electrification demonstration tests” in Vietnam)
2002 Johannesburg World Summit for Sustainable Development takes place. 2002 Commercial operation of Unit 3 of Onagawa Nuclear Power Station started.
2002 Eighth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP8) takes place in New Delhi. 2002 “Green Procurement Guideline” formulated.
2002 “Guideline of Measures to Prevent Global Warming” amended (“New Guideline” formulated). 2002 Additional investment in the World Bank Prototype Carbon Fund (PCF) made.
2002 “Basic Law on Energy Policy Making” enacted. 2002 Contract for NEDO's energy conservation model project awarded. (Kazakhstan)
2002 “Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law” enacted. 2003 “Waste Management System” introduced.
2002 “Law concerning the Promotion of the Measures to Cope with Global Warming” amended. 2003 “Sendai Thermal Power Station Replacement Plan” proposed.
2002 The Japanese government ratifies the “Kyoto Protocol.” 2004 “Phase II of Mid-Term Environmental Action Plan” formulated.
2002 “Special Measures Law concerning the Use of New Energy by Electric Utilities, (RPS (=Renewable Portfolio Standard) Law)” enacted. 2004 Environmental Affairs Department created.
2003 Ninth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP9) takes place in Milan. 2004 Takes part in Japan GHG Reduction Fund (JGRF).
2004 Tenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP10) takes place in Buenos Aires. 2004 Unit 1 of Higashidori Nuclear Power Station starts test run.
2005 The Kyoto Protocol takes effect. 2005 CO2 credits purchased from CDM project in Honduras.
2005 The “Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan” formulated. 2005 Participation in “Team Minus 6%” national campaign to control global warming.
2005 “Law concerning the Rational Use of Energy” amended. 2005 Commercial operation of Unit 1 of Higashidori Nuclear Power Station started.
2006 Revision of the Law for the Promotion of Sorted Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packages 2006 CO2 credits purchased from CDM project in China.
2006 Enforcement of RoHS Direction 2006 Participation in joint purchase (TCP) with JCF.
2006 Reinforcement of regulations on asbestos 2006 Proposal for Replacement Plan for Shin-Sendai Thermal Power Station.
2007 IPCC 4th Assessment Report published. 2006 Acceptance of feasibility study on small-and medium-scale hydroelectric power generation CDM projects in Vietnam.
2007 Earth Summit in Heiligendamm 2006 Commercial operation of Higashi-Niigata Thermal Power Station 4-2 System commenced.
    2007 Participation in hydroelectric power generation CDM projects in China
    2007 Acquisition of approval from the Japanese government for CDM/JI projects
    2007 Operation of “insulating oil recycling facility” of Sakata Recycling Center started.

* Items described above in blue color were occurred or held abroad.
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