Narita International Airport Corp. (NAA) held its first preliminary briefing on Wednesday for the land expropriation process that would let it seize property by force, as talks to buy land for a third runway remain stuck. About 140 residents attended the session in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, where speakers both backed and opposed the expansion.
A senior NAA official opened by saying the C runway is needed to lift the airport's annual takeoff and landing capacity from 340,000 to 500,000 flights, and that the company would "strive for careful explanations so that you can deepen your understanding." A second official described the project and the state of land acquisition, saying NAA was preparing the steps needed to use the expropriation system but would "make the utmost effort to secure land by agreement."
Support and anger in the room
During questions, a man from Shibayama said he wanted the new runway built "as soon as possible" for the region's development. Another man argued that expropriation proceedings were necessary to secure the land.
Kiyoshi Ogawa, a farmer who owns land in the planned construction area, criticized the expansion as leading to higher carbon dioxide emissions. Takashi Naito, a plaintiff in a lawsuit seeking to stop night and early-morning flights at Narita, who lives in Inashiki, Ibaraki Prefecture, said the new runway would lengthen flying hours and told officials he wanted the expropriation process stopped. Supporters and opponents of the expansion also argued over how long questions should be allowed to run.
NAA barred cameras and recording equipment and searched bags at the entrance, citing the privacy of landowners attending. Further briefings are scheduled for November 5 in Tako and November 11 in Shibayama.
99 hectares still unsold
NAA is extending the existing 2,500-meter B runway by 1,000 meters and building the roughly 3,500-meter C runway as the airport's third. Of the 1,099 hectares the project needs, 99 hectares had not been purchased as of September 25, and NAA sees no prospect of agreement on 51 hectares.
The Land Expropriation Act sets out the procedure for forcibly acquiring land for public works and requires project operators to hold a preliminary briefing. NAA plans to apply for project certification, the first step in the process, in December.
Narita's opening in 1978 followed years of resistance from farmers and protests that left deep distrust between the airport and local landowners, and the expropriation route now being prepared would be the first use of the law in the airport's history.