by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Ahead of upcoming public scoping meetings, Joint Guam Program Office director Joe Ludovici and JGPO's assistant director of environment Randy Sablan appeared before lawmakers this morning, briefing them on the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Marines live fire training range complex. The SEIS includes a new alternative site at Naval Magazine.

Senators asked a myriad of questions ranging from whether the DoD was using input from local experts on relative subject matters to whether the DoD was looking at moving the preferred location for housing the Marines from Finegayan to the southern part of Guam so it's closer to Naval Mag should it be selected as the training complex. "I think the Marines Corps' current preference is they would leave the cantonment up in Finegayan even if we put the firing ranges at Naval Mag," Ludovici said.

Other questions focused on whether there would still be a need for the training range complex if the marines are rotational, Ludovici responded yes because they sustain their training even when they are deployed to remain 100 percent ready. Discussions also included the possible contamination the Fena Reservoir, which is located on Naval Mag.