A group of local governments neighboring the U.S. Air Force Yokota base on Monday asked the national government to take measures to suspend all flight drills from the base, local government officials said.
The group, which comprises five cities, one town and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, also called for the national government to promote noise prevention measures, the officials said, adding the group will make a similar request to the U.S. forces in Japan.
In a letter of request submitted to the government, the group said the daily lives of residents near the U.S. base have been ruined by round-the-clock flight drills of planes aboard an aircraft carrier.
The group also asked the government to take steps to improve the environment, including the reduction and return of the land occupied by the base, the officials said.
The request also calls for a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement to incorporate domestic laws such as the Air Pollution Control Law in areas where U.S. military facilities are located.
The group also called on the state to request that the U.S. forces conduct an environmental assessment on exhaust gas from the base and release the results, the officials said.