by Mindy Aguon
Guam - The
Navy officially published a notice of intent to prepare a supplemental
environmental impact statement for a live-fire training range complex to support
the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam
today. This means a public scoping period has begun and comments will be
accepted until April 6.
While the Department
of Defense indicated that the Route 15 - Pagat area was the most suitable
location, the Navy is currently evaluating other options such as two areas
adjacent to Route 15 and three at Naval Magazine. We Are Guahan member Attorney
Leevin Camacho says the organization is hopeful the DoD will have open and
honest discussions but they do have reservations as those are the only areas
under consideration for the firing ranges.
"So we
want to look at their plans for Naval Magazine, we want to ensure that they are
going to consider all the impacts on historic and cultural sights that are up
there at Fena," he said. "So the numbers may change, but we are concerned
about for example the DoD taking more land, we want to make sure that civilians,
the 160,000 people who live on Guam today, that we're not going to be
significantly impacted with no mitigation."
Joint Guam
Program Office director Joseph Ludovici said the Navy remains committed to its
promise to not impact access to Pagat
Village and cave as
evaluation of alternatives is underway. Three public open house-style scoping
meetings will be held next month to gather public input on the scope of the SEIS. Meetings will be held on March 17 at the UOG Field
House, March 19 from Southern High School; and March 20 at the Yigo Gymnasium.
