The public will have a chance to voice any concerns it might have on the environmental impact of a massive new missile defense system for Guam. Acting Governor Josh Tenorio was notified that the Missile Defense Agency will file a notice of intent, which initiates the public comment period.

It says it right there in the Biden Administration's Fiscal Year 2024 Department of Defense budget: a key line item: "Defense of Guam against the missile threat from China - $1.5 billion."

Even as far back as two years ago military officials were talking about the "urgent need." Former Indo Pacom commander Admiral Philip Davidson put it bluntly during a 2021 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, saying, "Guam is a target today, it needs to be defended, and it needs to be prepared for the threats that will come in the future."

Davidson, now retired, then laid out all the reasons why Guam must be protected. "Most importantly, we have to understand - Guam is a U.S. territory. We have 170,000 U.S. citizens living on Guam. Their defense is homeland defense; we have 21,000 U.S. servicemen and women and DoD employees, plus their families. It's a deep water strategic port. Major fuels stores, munitions stores, command and control. It is a major power projection airfield for us in the region," he stated.

Now two years later, one of the first big steps is to seek the affected public's input on the environmental impact of such a missile defense system. The public comment period begins May 5 through June 27. The notice of intent also starts the scoping process, which is meant to identify what the key environmental issues are.

Scoping meetings are scheduled for June 14, 15 and 16 at the UOG Calvo Fieldhouse, at Okkodo High School, and at Southern High School.

Congressman Jim Moylan welcomed the start of the public input process, also saying in a news release that he's urging Congress to pass an additional $147 million that IndoPacom says it needs.

And Acting Governor Tenorio said in another statement that "During these times of increased tension in the Asia-Pacific Region the defense department has assured him it will do everything it can to protect Guam."

Even two years ago, Davidson said time is of the essence, noting, "The structure that's out there right now, the THAAD radar, is not capable of meeting the current trajectory of threats from China."