Sneak preview of DEIS

Sneak preview of DEIS

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 05:29
by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff

JGPO sheds little new light on impact study

JOINT Guam Program Office executive director General David Bice and director John Jackson yesterday discussed the highlights of the draft environment impact statement which will be available for public review starting Saturday.

Bice touched on numerous topics, including the location of a firing range for Marine training, which was originally planned along the west side of Guam near Finegayan, Dededo at an existing Navy firing range.

Bice said strong concerns had been expressed about the proposed site including concerns over wide public use of the area for recreational purposes.

Other sites on Andersen Air Force Base, as well as Naval Magazine were considered but had drawbacks. “You would actually have to transport the Marines from one local to the other and that would have a negative impact on the people of Guam because you have military trucks running up and down the highways,” Bice said.

An area along Route 15 located across the street from the old Andersen South housing is currently being discussed with the government of Guam.

“That became a location we’re in discussion with government of Guam. The waters are not considered recreational. There are very rough currents out there and it would have limited impact on people who use those waters there so as we evaluated all around, that became in the [impact study] the preferred alternative and still remains the preferred alternative as go forward on this,” Bice said.