A Study of Public Comments on Basic Environment Plans of Prefectures

Abstract

The central and local governments in Japan have positively tried to have public comments in the process of their decision-makings in recent years. This paper deals with the public comments on the Basic Environment Plans made by the prefectural governments. Although most of the prefectures get public comments when they develop the plans, the numbers of the comments and persons who presented the comments are not very large. It is suggested that the methods and procedures of public comments should be improved.