120-day stretch for DEIS review period sought

120-day stretch for DEIS review period sought

Friday, 05 February 2010 00:51
by Mar-Vic Cagurangan | Variety News Staff

THE new activist group called “We Are Guahan” has launched an online petition asking the Department of Defense to extend the review and comment period for the draft environmental impact statement by 120 days.

The Guam community was given 90 days to review and respond to the 11,000-page draft study releases in November. Under the current schedule, the comment period expires on Feb. 17.

The official request for extension was made earlier by Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo to Department of Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. The Navy official has yet to respond to the request.

“As evident in recent [draft environmental impact statement] hearings, concerns about land acquisition among other critical issues have emerged. Given this 90 day commenting period, the people of Guam have not been given adequate time and resources to comment on the Department of Defense's plans to increase its land inventory, especially when the Land Acquisition Impact,” states the petition, which has 394 signatures so far.

The petitioners are targeting 1,000 signatures for the petition.

“One of the many issues local Guam residents are concerned about is the measures the military will take to acquire the additional lands they seek to complete their mission,” the petition said.

We Are Guahan noted that the draft study uses “vague language, making it unclear to private landowners whether or not the military would seek to negotiate with landowners instead of resorting to the use of eminent domain and/or land condemnation.”

This petition “calls for the military to reveal to the public their plans to acquire land and to extend the period of time residents have to review and respond to said plan.”

To sign up or view the petition stats online go to: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/call-for-transparency-and-extension-of-deis-commenting-period.