OSAKA -- Three people living near the construction site of the Universal Studios Japan theme park in Konohana Ward here filed a petition Wednesday with the Osaka District Court, seeking a court order against USJ Co. and Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. to suspend the ongoing project.
The residents said the soil at the site is contaminated with toxic waste, such as lead, arsenic and total mercury, that would pose hazards if construction continues.
Sumitomo Metal is the landowner of part of the site and the forth-largest shareholder of USJ.