Further information about items mentioned in these press releases can be obtained by email from info2@fujita.co.jp

25 Feb 2002
Fujita and Edenspace announce strategic partnership for phytoremediation in Japan

For More Information Contact:
Dr. Michael Blaylock, Edenspace [+1 (703) 961-8700]
Mr. Tamotsu Kuriyama, Fujita [+81 03 3379 2181]

(Dulles, VA, 25 February 2002) -- Fujita Corporation and Edenspace Systems Corporation announced today that they had entered into a collaborative agreement to introduce phytoremediation technology to the Japanese market. Phytoremediation is the process of using plants (such as fern, mustard and sunflower) to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater. Following demonstration projects in Japan this year, Fujita plans to apply the technology to full-scale soil and water remediation projects in Japan.

According to estimates by the Soil Environmental Center of Japan, the Japanese soil and water remediation market is expected to be worth 13 trillion Japanese yen. Contaminants can be classified into two groups as follows:
Group 1. Organic contaminants such as trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, etc.
Group 2. Heavy metals and other inorganic contaminants such as lead, cadmium,
mercury, arsenic, etc.

Group 1 contaminants decompose relatively easily, and many technologies have been developed for sites contaminated with these chemicals. Group 2 contaminants, however, are more difficult to remove, and have traditionally required expensive solutions such as soil washing or removal and disposal of soil. Development of an innovative, low-cost, low-energy technology such as phytoremediation is therefore important to meet Japanese client needs for removal of Group 2 contaminants.

The six steps that comprise a typical phytoremediation project are as follows:

1. Characterization of the horizontal and vertical distribution of contaminants in the soil.
2. Chemical analysis of the soil contaminants and growth chamber studies to identify the
   best plants for site cleanup.
3. Completion of a small-scale field demonstration at the site.
4. Cultivation of plants at the site.
5. Harvest of the plants.
6. Removal of harvested plants to landfills or to processing centers where metals in the
   plants are recovered and recycled.

The time required to reduce soil contamination to an acceptable level varies from project to project, but typically averages between six months and three years. Fujita estimates that the cost will range from 20,000 to 30,000 Japanese yen per cubic meter, representing a 50-70% savings compared to typical cleanup methods in Japan.
With annual revenues of about five hundred billion Japanese yen and extensive experience in urban development, civil engineering, and environmental technologies, Fujita is one of Japan’s major integrated general contractors. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujita has more than a dozen overseas offices and nearly two dozen subsidiaries and affiliates.

Headquartered in northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., Edenspace Systems Corporation is a leader in the use of live plants to protect and clean the environment. Its proprietary techniques employ plants to concentrate and remove lead, arsenic, radionuclides, chlorides (salts) and other minerals from water and soil. With expertise in plant science, soil science and agronomy, Edenspace is developing new markets for the restoration and enrichment of our surroundings.