by Nick Delgado

Guam - This week is the last chance residents have to comment on the Navy's Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a live fire training range complex. But it seems most residents we asked today are still not too familiar with the SEIS or simply have not taken the time to review the information.

"I want it to continue, I am all for the buildup," one resident proclaimed. When KUAM News asked another neighbor, Romy Adca, if she'd read up on it at all, she replied, "I don't know, I'm too busy."

Just days before the comment period ends for residents to voice their concerns on the military's proposal for a live fire training range on Guam, it seems there are still those who are oblivious to what the plans include. Justin Lujan is one of those residents who now wished he had more time to review the Navy's proposal, and he said, "I heard about the live firing ranges but I haven't really read up on it. I feel it's an important issue; I don't want to say it's just that my voice isn't going to be heard but what can I do, I can read up on it as much as I want to but there is not much I can do. They are going to do what they want to do and there is not much we can say."

Guam Buildup Office director Mark Calvo appeared before island Rotarians today relaying the latest information GovGuam has regarding the marine realignment, to include the sites proposed for the training ranges. "They've added four options on top of the Pagat option, there is one south of Pagat about a mile primarily in private property, if you know former senator [Ted] Nelson and the property over near Marbo Cave," he stated.

Calvo continued, "The three options at Naval Magazine are north and south options from the top of Naval Magazine down towards Mount Lamlam, and another option that looks east to west from outside the Naval Magazine properties and into Naval Magazine where the firing happens mostly, the bullets land mostly in Naval Magazine and these ranges are small arms."

He says one of the latter proposals would result in the federal government purchasing 2,800 acres of land. Another is the alternative of no action. Aside from the SEIS, Calvo also said there is no need to waste time and money to draft up a new EIS as indicated as a possibility by Assistant Secretary Jackalynn Pfannenstiel during a Senate hearing last week.

In the meantime, April 6 is the last day for residents to comment on the SEIS.