by Nick Delgado

Guam - Senator Judith Guthertz made recommendations to stretch out the time period and minimize the number of Marines slated to relocate from Okinawa to Guam. Guthertz is recommending that the Marines be moved over an eight-year period, as the current footprint anticipates the arrival of more than 40,000 military personnel and their dependants to the island.

The Democrat lawmaker also recommends reducing the size of the movement to Guam by 50% by having the 4,000 in Futenma move to Tinian and Agrihan, as the mayors of those territories have asked that the military consider them for the buildup. Senator Guthertz said, "Relocate 4,000 of the 8,652 Marines originally intended to go to Guam from the current infantry bases in Okinawa to the vated facilities at Futenma, thus thinning out the presence in the populated areas of Okinawa."

Guthertz says she will present her plans to the federal government, the White House, and to Congress in hopes that the agreement between the U.S. and Japan can be reevaluated.