The Ministry of the Environment on Friday designated Oze, a treasure trove
of marshes, mountains and virgin forests located inside the Nikko National
Park, as a candidate for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of
International Importance(Note).  Some 70% of the land in Oze is owned by
TEPCO.

TEPCO has actively promoted the 'building of environment-oriented
society' as one of its foremost management priorities and has launched
various measures to that end.  In particular, in the past forty years or so,
TEPCO has launched dedicated efforts to conserve the natural environment in
Oze, as a precious natural resource representing Japan, working with people
in the local community in various areas including the maintenance of some
20 kilometers of wooden paths, and rejuvenation of damaged marshes.
TEPCO believes the efforts of TEPCO and local community members have played
a significant role in the designation of Oze as a candidate for inclusion
in the "Ramsar List."

Oze is expected to be approved for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands
of International Importance at the 9th meeting of the Conference of the
Parties to the Convention on Wetlands to be held in the Republic of Uganda,
8 to 15 November 2005.

TEPCO will continue to work for the building of environment-oriented
society through conservation of natural environment in Oze and other ways.

(Note)The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Convention on Wetlands of
      International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat)
 The Convention on Wetlands, designed to encourage the conservation of
 wetlands and plant / animal species supported by the wetlands, and promote
 the wise use of wetlands, was adopted in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar
 on the shore of the Caspian Sea.  In a shift from its original emphasis on
 wetlands as a habitat for waterfowl, its scope was expanded, in line with
 heightened awareness on the importance of wetlands, at the 7th Meeting of
 the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands
 held in 1999 in recognition of the significance of wetlands in ecosystem
 conservation.  The Ramsar Convention seeks to double the number of
 designated sites by 2005.  Japan joined the Convention in 1980, which has
 146 contracting parties as of September 2005.

Attachment
Nature Conservation Activities in Oze by TEPCO