Staff writer

OSAKA -- Universal Studios Japan, a franchise of the American theme park scheduled to open here in 2001, is facing an unexpected environmental controversy that could derail current plans.

Environmental tests were ordered by the city of Osaka following revelations in July that nearly 700,000 tons of mud mixed with PCBs and other carcinogens had been buried by Sumitomo Metal Industries over a 25-year period on a portion of the site for the park.