The Mitsubishi Electric Group conducts environmental assessments based on internal rules in conjunction with land changes and other developments. For the 12 areas confirmed as having contaminated groundwater or soil, we have undertaken remediation measures complying with regulations, and are reporting monitoring results to authorities on an ongoing basis.

In fiscal 2009, we examined soil and groundwater test results and contamination prevention measures for 16 cases in which land usage had changed, and determined that appropriate measures were being taken in all cases.

Environmental accidents are prevented through the early replacement of aging equipment and through preventive maintenance based on inspections sites perform on one another.

We pursue the early replacement of aging equipment by first preparing lists of risks for the equipment at individual sites. Equipment that is at least 10 years old is examined and replaced as necessary. As of the end of fiscal 2009, boilers, chimneys, fuel tanks, chemical tanks, sewage treatment equipment, and other types of equipment/facilities numbering 79 in all had been replaced.

In connection with the preventive maintenance activities mentioned above, we calculate values according to various environmental indices we use to assess environmental risks, and determine the types and degrees of risks at individual sites.

An analysis of environmental accidents (including leaks confined to site premises) that have occurred at Mitsubishi Electric and its affiliates over the past five years shows that 66% were caused by improper work procedures or inadequate rules or instructions, and 34% were caused by defective construction or excessive wear and tear.

At least once per year at each storage site, we inspect and check PCB waste being stored by the company, as well as devices in use that contain PCBs.

Personnel responsible for supervising or carrying out work involving PCBs are trained to help ensure that storage conditions are properly managed. We currently dispose of PCB waste in a regular manner on the basis of a contract signed in fiscal 2007 with the Japan Environmental Safety Corporation (a fully owned government body that conducts PCB waste disposal under government supervision). In fiscal 2009, processing of 11 units was completed as planned.

Going forward, the processing schedule for high-concentration PCBs now being stored by Mitsubishi Electric calls for the processing of 930 units by the end of fiscal 2012, the last year of the 6th Environmental Plan, and the completion of processing for all 1,931 units by fiscal 2014. Affiliates in Japan are also moving ahead with processing in a systematic fashion. Processing plans for low-concentration PCBs will be created once the Japanese government makes the related policy determinations.

Customers can determine whether they have any electrical devices that use PCBs and were manufactured by the Mitsubishi Electric Group by referring to a list posted on the Group website.

With respect to the chance that small amounts of PCB have contaminated transformers and other devices, Mitsubishi Electric has considered the possibilities of contamination during the manufacturing process, contamination after the devices have been delivered, contamination through insulating oil and other scenarios; but it has not been possible to identify the causes, devices involved or time of manufacture. We have therefore concluded that we cannot deny the possibility that small amounts of PCBs could have contaminated electrical devices that use electrical insulating oil and that were manufactured prior to 1989.

Quality control for insulating oil has been strengthened for devices manufactured since 1990, so we have judged that there has been no contamination by low-concentration PCBs as of product shipment.

Along with continuing to manage quality for insulating oil, we are working to provide technical information via our website, and are responding to individual inquiries via a customer service desk already in place.

Mitsubishi Electric also participates in the Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association's PCB Disposal Committee, an industry group. We help the group disseminate information and consider disposal policies.

Mitsubishi Electric has banned the use of all six types of asbestos* as of July 1, 2006. We require that suppliers provide a guarantee of non-use when purchasing materials from them and confirm that there has been no contamination (revisions have already been made to our list of chemical substances for green procurement). Our group companies have also finished replacing asbestos with alternative materials and have destroyed asbestos-containing inventory as of September 2006.

*The six types of asbestos are Chrysotile, Amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, actinolite and tremolite.