Bordallo challenges DEIS
Wednesday, 17 February 2010 03:37
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
Congressional report lists flaws of the draft study
THE military buildup must be delayed, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo said last night, acknowledging that the draft environmental impact statement has serious deficiencies that need to be addressed.
In her congressional report to the people, Bordallo identified six areas of concern regarding the draft study, including and the Navy’s desire to acquire additional private and public lands.
“We will challenge the Navy to conduct the military buildup on their existing land. The Navy should better utilize its land and consider moving housing and some support facilities for the Marine aviation unit to Andersen Air Force Base,” Bordallo said.
Secondly, an area of concern is the proposed firing range at Pagat and Sasayan. “If private property owners choose not to lease or sell their land I will support them and oppose any effort by the Department of Defense to use eminent domain to acquire that land. I recognize the input of private landowners and the organization ‘We Are Guahan’ on this issue.
A third area of concern is the proposed alternative for an aircraft carrier transient berth in Apra Harbor. “The plans for the carrier berth in Apra Harbor will result in a significant loss of coral. I will challenge the Navy to identify other alternatives that will minimize coral damage and that will take advantage of currently dredged areas such as Kilo or Delta wharves among others. I thank Senator Guthertz for her input,” said the congresswoman.
Fourth, she noted the need for federal assistance for improving civilian infrastructure on Guam to support the military buildup.
“While the DEIS draft report recognizes the need to improve civilian infrastructure it does not provide a clear strategy that details how the federal government will assist Guam,” Bordallo said as she opposed the Navy’s plan to drill 22 new wells in the north “until an independent assessment is made about the capacity of the northern aquifer.”
The fifth area of concern is the lack of a comprehensive plan for the housing of guest workers and providing for their health care needs in a manner that does not further overwhelm Guam’s local infrastructure and health care system.
“Let me be clear about this issue – we must do all that we can to train our local workforce and hire them before we utilize guest workers. Any proposal to house guest workers outside the gates must address their impact on civilian infrastructure such as water, wastewater and power. We cannot allow guest worker housing off-base to cause the faucets to run dry or power outages in our homes.”
Socioeconomic
Finally, Bordallo said, the socioeconomic portion of the draft study must be completely rewritten “in order to truly address the socioeconomic impacts of the military buildup.”
She said she will encourage the Navy to work closely with the University of Guam, the Guam Community College and the Department of Chamorro Affairs to develop a better understanding of the cultural issues and to formulate a comprehensive plan to support programs which preserve and promote Chamorro culture and language and I thank Fuetsan Famaloan for this input.”
On the issue of war claims, Bordallo said that she has made significant progress and that “we are closer than ever to passing this bill and we will continue to build on our progress.”
Bordallo spoke strongly on Guam’s quest for self-determination saying that Guam must refocus on the process to achieve decolonization and improve its political status with the U.S.
Projects
Bordallo also said she was concerned about the one of the assumption in the draft impact report that all projects will be completed by 2014.
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that this draft EIS has done more harm than good. The DEIS has not accurately identified the impacts on Guam and it has exaggerated some impacts based on a false assumption that all projects will be completed by 2014,” said the congresswoman.
“This flawed assumption has drawn consequences and conclusions that are not sustainable and not supported by anyone. Nobody wants 80,000 additional people on Guam in 2014,” Bordallo said. “We will do everything that we can, federally and locally, to stop that from happening. As I said before, we have our foot on the brakes. I will not support appropriations and authorizations that will result in a construction pace that brings 80,000 people to Guam in 2014.”
Showing posts with label Landowners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Landowners. Show all posts
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Benny Crawford with Ray Gibson
Benny Crawford with Ray Gibson
Interview between Ray Gibson and Benny Crawford, Tiyan Landowners Association, about the Tiyan Trust and recent developments in locating lands for the landowners to swap for the inaccessible Tiyan lands.
Click here to download the entire podcast.
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/images/stories/k57podcasts/feb10/100211_092211.mp3
Interview between Ray Gibson and Benny Crawford, Tiyan Landowners Association, about the Tiyan Trust and recent developments in locating lands for the landowners to swap for the inaccessible Tiyan lands.
Click here to download the entire podcast.
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/images/stories/k57podcasts/feb10/100211_092211.mp3
Thursday, February 11, 2010
PNC :: Cruz and Perez Debate Viability of Road To Finegayan
PNC :: Cruz and Perez Debate Viability of Road To Finegayan
Friday, 5 February 2010
Guam - Vice-Speaker Senator BJ Cruz is still concerned about a proposed road that will run from Marine Drive to South Finegayan.
The senator has been critical of the plan to build this road that is shown on some maps as a miltary only road. While Cruz initially thought that the road was not present in the military's Draft EIS he has found that it is. What is of more concern to him however is that the road will run directly through prime real estate that local landowners have been trying to develop for tourism. The senator says that as the chairman of tourism he is trying to protect some expensive land in the Dos Amantes or Two Lover's point area that is ideal for developing resorts.
Cruz is concerned that the road will cut right through the most desireable part of the land. Department of Public Works Director Larry Perez however says that the road will work within the land use plan of the Dos Amantes or two lovers point area. He says that the road they will build will actually help landwoners by providing access to their properties.
Perez also stresses that this is still just a proposed option of DOD and many changes can happen to it between now and it's actual construction. In addition to this Perez says that because it will be paid for by federal dollars it must be accessible to the local community as per federal guidelines. As for the map that lists it as a military road, Perez says the map is only reffering to a part of the road that runs through military property.
Written by : Clynt Ridgell
Friday, 5 February 2010
Guam - Vice-Speaker Senator BJ Cruz is still concerned about a proposed road that will run from Marine Drive to South Finegayan.
The senator has been critical of the plan to build this road that is shown on some maps as a miltary only road. While Cruz initially thought that the road was not present in the military's Draft EIS he has found that it is. What is of more concern to him however is that the road will run directly through prime real estate that local landowners have been trying to develop for tourism. The senator says that as the chairman of tourism he is trying to protect some expensive land in the Dos Amantes or Two Lover's point area that is ideal for developing resorts.
Cruz is concerned that the road will cut right through the most desireable part of the land. Department of Public Works Director Larry Perez however says that the road will work within the land use plan of the Dos Amantes or two lovers point area. He says that the road they will build will actually help landwoners by providing access to their properties.
Perez also stresses that this is still just a proposed option of DOD and many changes can happen to it between now and it's actual construction. In addition to this Perez says that because it will be paid for by federal dollars it must be accessible to the local community as per federal guidelines. As for the map that lists it as a military road, Perez says the map is only reffering to a part of the road that runs through military property.
Written by : Clynt Ridgell
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Firing range key to buildup: Raceway may not need to move
Firing range key to buildup: Raceway may not need to move
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News • January 23, 2010
A plan to build a small-arms firing range on Guam's northeast coast has been one of the most commonly protested components of the coming military buildup, but it is also one of the most essential.
There is no buildup without a firing range, retired Marine Corps Col. John Jackson, director of the Joint Guam Program Office, said yesterday.
None of the existing ranges on Guam could be expanded to handle 8,500 Marines and the military's original plan to put a firing range on military property by Double Reef was shot down by the public, he said.
But Marines who transfer to Guam in the next few years will need a place to maintain their skill and certification with weapons, Jackson said. The Pagat area is the only suitable place left, according to the draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Regardless, some of the loudest voices against the buildup during the last two months have been opposed to the military's plans for this land.
Some of these conflicts -- including the relocation of the Guam International Raceway -- may be resolved, Jackson said. Others, such as concerns about access to Pagat Cave, are misunderstandings, he said.
Raceway
When racers arrived at the raceway last night, buildup protesters were waiting for them.
GovGuam has invested about $7.3 million in the Guam International Raceway since it was built on Chamorro Land Trust land in 2001, but the draft EIS states that the raceway must be relocated.
Joe Naputi Jr., who has been volunteering his time as track manager for about four years, said many volunteers have worked hard to detour illegal drag racing onto the legal track.
"We spent a lot of money already to build this racetrack and we don't know if we have enough money to go and build another one elsewhere," he said.
Even if the military offers to pay for a replacement track of equal value somewhere else, it won't be the same place volunteers have poured their lives into, Naputi said.
Although the military's original plan for the firing range does require the raceway to move, this might change, Jackson said.
He said the Department of Defense is looking for a way to reorganize the gunfire trajectories and safety zones in the firing range so the raceway can stay put without Marines endangering each other.
It is possible the range and the raceway will become neighbors, he said.
Last night, Naputi said this possibility was a step in the right direction, but he wonders if racers would be safe next door to a firing range.
He also said the Department of Defense's indecisiveness didn't inspire a lot of confidence, and asked if it was that easy to change the plan, what is to stop them from changing it back?
"Which one is it?" Naputi said. "They are changing things left and right and we want to know the real truth. It's kind of senseless to tell us you are going to move us out of the way and then later on (say) we are neighbors. That's two different stories."
Opportunity
If the firing range is an essential part of the buildup, then protesters must realize they are objecting to a lot of new jobs, tax dollars and opportunity. Guam can't have one without the other, Carl Peterson said yesterday.
Peterson is a member of the Guam Chamber of Commerce board of directors who has high hopes for the buildup. He said many of the "emotional" protests to the firing range aren't worth jeopardizing the economic boom of the buildup.
Guam needs this, he said.
"We are in debt up to our ears and this income is going to help us (pay off) that debt," he said.
Peterson said the simplest benefit from the buildup will be additional tax dollars, which will help improve the troubled state of Guam's schools, health care and roads.
If the buildup brings $15 billion in spending to the island, GovGuam will make $600,000 from the gross receipts tax alone, he said.
After that, the federal government will dump tax dollars from the mainland into Guam's civilian roadways and infrastructure. And if GovGuam and the military share the island's new landfill, trash service will cost less for everyone.
These are just some of the benefits the buildup could bring, he said.
If there were no buildup, Guam would have to rely on a fading tourism industry and the future will be dark, he said. Japan's aging population is traveling less and competition from cheaper destinations -- such as Singapore and Bangkok -- is strong.
"In the long term, without additional investment of capital from the buildup, it can only mean our standard of living goes down," Peterson said.
Conflicts
If the Guam International Raceway doesn't have to move, some of the civilians who object to the firing range will be satisfied.
But there are still more conflicts out there.
•Cultural activists, such as Joe Quinata of the Guam Preservation Trust, have taken steps to draw national attention to the plight of the Pagat area, where the remains of an ancient Chamorro village are buried;
•Landowners such as Gloria Nelson have said they want to keep their land and the military should not be confident it can be bought; and
•Hikers such as Dave Lotz have said the public deserves access to natural beauties such as Pagat Cave.
Yesterday, Jackson said anyone who wants access to Pagat Cave will be able to during the 13 weeks a year when the firing range is not in use, and that it might be open to the public some weekends too.
This is "not very well articulated" in the draft EIS, he said.
The document suggests Pagat Cave will be off limits all the time, but this was never the plan, Jackson said.
Limited access may actually help protect the cave and the cultural remains, he said.
"There won't be any of the destructive activity going on down there that takes place today. I don't know if you've been down there, but there is a lot of trash down there," Jackson said. "... We would have people that would go down there to make sure it is kept clean."
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News • January 23, 2010
A plan to build a small-arms firing range on Guam's northeast coast has been one of the most commonly protested components of the coming military buildup, but it is also one of the most essential.
There is no buildup without a firing range, retired Marine Corps Col. John Jackson, director of the Joint Guam Program Office, said yesterday.
None of the existing ranges on Guam could be expanded to handle 8,500 Marines and the military's original plan to put a firing range on military property by Double Reef was shot down by the public, he said.
But Marines who transfer to Guam in the next few years will need a place to maintain their skill and certification with weapons, Jackson said. The Pagat area is the only suitable place left, according to the draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Regardless, some of the loudest voices against the buildup during the last two months have been opposed to the military's plans for this land.
Some of these conflicts -- including the relocation of the Guam International Raceway -- may be resolved, Jackson said. Others, such as concerns about access to Pagat Cave, are misunderstandings, he said.
Raceway
When racers arrived at the raceway last night, buildup protesters were waiting for them.
GovGuam has invested about $7.3 million in the Guam International Raceway since it was built on Chamorro Land Trust land in 2001, but the draft EIS states that the raceway must be relocated.
Joe Naputi Jr., who has been volunteering his time as track manager for about four years, said many volunteers have worked hard to detour illegal drag racing onto the legal track.
"We spent a lot of money already to build this racetrack and we don't know if we have enough money to go and build another one elsewhere," he said.
Even if the military offers to pay for a replacement track of equal value somewhere else, it won't be the same place volunteers have poured their lives into, Naputi said.
Although the military's original plan for the firing range does require the raceway to move, this might change, Jackson said.
He said the Department of Defense is looking for a way to reorganize the gunfire trajectories and safety zones in the firing range so the raceway can stay put without Marines endangering each other.
It is possible the range and the raceway will become neighbors, he said.
Last night, Naputi said this possibility was a step in the right direction, but he wonders if racers would be safe next door to a firing range.
He also said the Department of Defense's indecisiveness didn't inspire a lot of confidence, and asked if it was that easy to change the plan, what is to stop them from changing it back?
"Which one is it?" Naputi said. "They are changing things left and right and we want to know the real truth. It's kind of senseless to tell us you are going to move us out of the way and then later on (say) we are neighbors. That's two different stories."
Opportunity
If the firing range is an essential part of the buildup, then protesters must realize they are objecting to a lot of new jobs, tax dollars and opportunity. Guam can't have one without the other, Carl Peterson said yesterday.
Peterson is a member of the Guam Chamber of Commerce board of directors who has high hopes for the buildup. He said many of the "emotional" protests to the firing range aren't worth jeopardizing the economic boom of the buildup.
Guam needs this, he said.
"We are in debt up to our ears and this income is going to help us (pay off) that debt," he said.
Peterson said the simplest benefit from the buildup will be additional tax dollars, which will help improve the troubled state of Guam's schools, health care and roads.
If the buildup brings $15 billion in spending to the island, GovGuam will make $600,000 from the gross receipts tax alone, he said.
After that, the federal government will dump tax dollars from the mainland into Guam's civilian roadways and infrastructure. And if GovGuam and the military share the island's new landfill, trash service will cost less for everyone.
These are just some of the benefits the buildup could bring, he said.
If there were no buildup, Guam would have to rely on a fading tourism industry and the future will be dark, he said. Japan's aging population is traveling less and competition from cheaper destinations -- such as Singapore and Bangkok -- is strong.
"In the long term, without additional investment of capital from the buildup, it can only mean our standard of living goes down," Peterson said.
Conflicts
If the Guam International Raceway doesn't have to move, some of the civilians who object to the firing range will be satisfied.
But there are still more conflicts out there.
•Cultural activists, such as Joe Quinata of the Guam Preservation Trust, have taken steps to draw national attention to the plight of the Pagat area, where the remains of an ancient Chamorro village are buried;
•Landowners such as Gloria Nelson have said they want to keep their land and the military should not be confident it can be bought; and
•Hikers such as Dave Lotz have said the public deserves access to natural beauties such as Pagat Cave.
Yesterday, Jackson said anyone who wants access to Pagat Cave will be able to during the 13 weeks a year when the firing range is not in use, and that it might be open to the public some weekends too.
This is "not very well articulated" in the draft EIS, he said.
The document suggests Pagat Cave will be off limits all the time, but this was never the plan, Jackson said.
Limited access may actually help protect the cave and the cultural remains, he said.
"There won't be any of the destructive activity going on down there that takes place today. I don't know if you've been down there, but there is a lot of trash down there," Jackson said. "... We would have people that would go down there to make sure it is kept clean."
Monday, January 18, 2010
D.C. panels to decide on land acquisition plans
D.C. panels to decide on land acquisition plans
Monday, 18 January 2010 03:40
Variety News Staff
ANY proposal by the Department of Defense to acquire land for a military project through any process will have to go through the House and Senate armed services committees either for approval or rejection, according to Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo's office in Washington D.C.
The proposal would be included in the defense department’s annual submission to Capitol Hill.
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and as a member of the Subcommittee on Readiness, Bordallo will participate in any discussion involving land acquisition.
“I hope that the Department of Defense will have a good faith dialogue with the government of Guam and private landowners that will result in mutually agreeable solutions to land issues,” Bordallo said.
“I have stated that I will not support the use of eminent domain to acquire lands that private landowners are not willing to lease or sell, and I will urge DoD to consider training alternatives if they are unable to reach agreement on land issues. I will urge my colleagues in the House Armed Services Committee to support this position,” she added.
In response to vice speaker BJ Cruz's request for new extension of the public comment period for the draft environmental impact statement, Bordallo sent a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus reiterating Cruz’s request.
As it stands, the public comment period ends on Feb. 17.
Monday, 18 January 2010 03:40
Variety News Staff
ANY proposal by the Department of Defense to acquire land for a military project through any process will have to go through the House and Senate armed services committees either for approval or rejection, according to Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo's office in Washington D.C.
The proposal would be included in the defense department’s annual submission to Capitol Hill.
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and as a member of the Subcommittee on Readiness, Bordallo will participate in any discussion involving land acquisition.
“I hope that the Department of Defense will have a good faith dialogue with the government of Guam and private landowners that will result in mutually agreeable solutions to land issues,” Bordallo said.
“I have stated that I will not support the use of eminent domain to acquire lands that private landowners are not willing to lease or sell, and I will urge DoD to consider training alternatives if they are unable to reach agreement on land issues. I will urge my colleagues in the House Armed Services Committee to support this position,” she added.
In response to vice speaker BJ Cruz's request for new extension of the public comment period for the draft environmental impact statement, Bordallo sent a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus reiterating Cruz’s request.
As it stands, the public comment period ends on Feb. 17.
Will Landholders Unite? (Jan 15, 2010)
Will Landholders Unite? (Jan 15, 2010)
GUAM - At stake is some 22-hundred acres of prime real estate, most of it along the seaward side of the Back Road to Andersen. The looming question: will the military again take pristine lands from Guam's people without considering the pricelessness of its value?
Not if guys like Ed Cruz and Bob Bucek have anything to say about it.
Cruz and Bucek are among Calvo Memorial Raceway Park's most ardent devotees. For years they've helped develop the Yigo park into a successful sports tourism facility. Cruz doesn't oppose the military's planned 15-billion-dollar buildup. He just doesn't want to get kicked off a landmark property that means so much to race enthusiasts and the economy.
Sound bite: Ed Cruz
Sound bite: Bob Bucek
During recent Draft-EIS hearings, a public outcry has emerged over the military's need for lands like Sasayan near Marbo Cave.
The land issue has galvanized a diverse group of concerned citizens from activists to professionals to everyday citizens. It has also brought together a loose bunch of influential families. Calvos, Unpingcos, Nelsons, Sgambelluris. Members of these clans bring new dimensions to the arguments made on behalf of the people of Guam. Lawyers, businessmen, politicians all bringing their expertise to the table and raising the stakes in the fight for lands.
Story Credits: Written by Jeff Marchesseault
Camera and video editing by David F. Macaluso
GUAM - At stake is some 22-hundred acres of prime real estate, most of it along the seaward side of the Back Road to Andersen. The looming question: will the military again take pristine lands from Guam's people without considering the pricelessness of its value?
Not if guys like Ed Cruz and Bob Bucek have anything to say about it.
Cruz and Bucek are among Calvo Memorial Raceway Park's most ardent devotees. For years they've helped develop the Yigo park into a successful sports tourism facility. Cruz doesn't oppose the military's planned 15-billion-dollar buildup. He just doesn't want to get kicked off a landmark property that means so much to race enthusiasts and the economy.
Sound bite: Ed Cruz
Sound bite: Bob Bucek
During recent Draft-EIS hearings, a public outcry has emerged over the military's need for lands like Sasayan near Marbo Cave.
The land issue has galvanized a diverse group of concerned citizens from activists to professionals to everyday citizens. It has also brought together a loose bunch of influential families. Calvos, Unpingcos, Nelsons, Sgambelluris. Members of these clans bring new dimensions to the arguments made on behalf of the people of Guam. Lawyers, businessmen, politicians all bringing their expertise to the table and raising the stakes in the fight for lands.
Story Credits: Written by Jeff Marchesseault
Camera and video editing by David F. Macaluso
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Bordallo opposed to use of eminent domain by DoD for land acquisition
Bordallo opposed to use of eminent domain by DoD for land acquisition
Saipan Tribune
Thursday, January 14, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo is opposed to the idea of allowing the U.S. Department of Defense to use eminent domain as a means to acquire private property from an unwilling landowner in Guam.
In a statement issued yesterday, Bordallo said she would oppose any DoD efforts to use eminent domain to acquire the private property of a landowner who is not interested in leasing or selling their private property.
“On several occasions when I have met with DoD officials I told them that I oppose the use of eminent domain to acquire private property and that this option would not be supported by our leaders and our community,” she said. “I have encouraged the DoD to work closely with the Government of Guam and any private landowners to explore mutually agreeable solutions to any land issues.”
Bordallo's statement was in response to land acquisition issues that were raised at recent Draft Environmental Impact Statement public hearings in Guam.
She pointed out that any effort by the DoD to use eminent domain for land acquisition would have to be approved by the U.S. Congress and reviewed by the House Armed Services Committee.
“I believe that further dialogue between DoD, our elected leaders, and private landowners will go a long way in finding solutions to military requirements while avoiding use of eminent domain and minimizing the impact to our cultural heritage and environment. I will reiterate my opposition to the use of eminent domain to acquire land in comments that I will submit on the draft EIS,” she said. (Saipan Tribune)
Saipan Tribune
Thursday, January 14, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo is opposed to the idea of allowing the U.S. Department of Defense to use eminent domain as a means to acquire private property from an unwilling landowner in Guam.
In a statement issued yesterday, Bordallo said she would oppose any DoD efforts to use eminent domain to acquire the private property of a landowner who is not interested in leasing or selling their private property.
“On several occasions when I have met with DoD officials I told them that I oppose the use of eminent domain to acquire private property and that this option would not be supported by our leaders and our community,” she said. “I have encouraged the DoD to work closely with the Government of Guam and any private landowners to explore mutually agreeable solutions to any land issues.”
Bordallo's statement was in response to land acquisition issues that were raised at recent Draft Environmental Impact Statement public hearings in Guam.
She pointed out that any effort by the DoD to use eminent domain for land acquisition would have to be approved by the U.S. Congress and reviewed by the House Armed Services Committee.
“I believe that further dialogue between DoD, our elected leaders, and private landowners will go a long way in finding solutions to military requirements while avoiding use of eminent domain and minimizing the impact to our cultural heritage and environment. I will reiterate my opposition to the use of eminent domain to acquire land in comments that I will submit on the draft EIS,” she said. (Saipan Tribune)
Public still can comment: Dededo residents brace for changes
Public still can comment: Dededo residents brace for changes
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News • January 13, 2010
Hearing: Chamorro activists raise their fists and cheer on the testimony of We Are Guahan group's Melvin Won Pat-Borja at the last public hearing on the Guam/CNMI Military Relocation draft Environmental Impact Statement. The hearing was held at Okkodo High School, yesterday. (Jacqueline Hernandez/Pacific Daily News/jhernande7)
Although the public hearings in Guam are over, residents who still want to comment on the military buildup draft Environmental Impact Statement haven't lost their chance.
You can still submit comments through the Internet or mail, and those comments will be considered the same as those that were presented publicly over the last week.
All comments must be accepted, some comments may reshape the military's plans and some comments won't get a response, retired Marine Corps Col. John Jackson, director of the Joint Guam Program Office, said last night.
"Some of them may be 'Yankee go home' and others may be 'Hey, we are glad you are here,'" Jackson said. "That doesn't really help the decision making. That part of the process of getting comments is to assist the decision-makers, ... to give them the best information from all aspects."
Population
The final hearing last night was held at the Okkodo High School gym and many residents of Dededo attended to learn more about the busy future of their village. Dededo already is the most populous village on Guam, and the coming military buildup will only congest the village even more. The buildup is estimated to bring about 80,000 more people to Guam by 2014, according to the draft Environmental Impact Study.
John G. San Nicolas worries it may be too much. With more residents on island, everyone will have to compete over limited resources, from the shady spots at the beach to the last table at a restaurant, he said.
"With just the sheer number of people on this island, being in such a small confined space, it's only natural to expect that friction is going to occur," he said. "And friction could occur in different places -- the beach, the roads, going to the mall, parties -- from the mere fact that the frequency of us meeting each other is higher."
Many of new residents who move to Guam for the buildup will end up living in the Ukudu Workforce Village, a massive housing facility with all the makings of an entire community, that will be built not far from where the hearing was held last night.
Guam-based Younex Enterprises Corp and a South Korean construction company have already agreed to work together to build the housing facility in the Harmon Annex south of the Navy's south Finegayan housing.
According to Pacific Daily News files, the facility will feed workers and transport them to their jobs and other activities. The facility will include its own 24-hour medical clinics, religious services, entertainment, laundry, banking, convenience stores and emergency services.
The entire project should be finished by 2013, when buildup-related construction is booming. San Nicolas, who lives close to where the housing will be built, worried the facility would bring no benefit to Dededo. Although the buildup promises to bolster the local economy, the facility sounds like it will create an economic vacuum, he said.
If workers in the housing will be imported, much of the money they earn will go off island, he said. And if the workers get their food, services and fun inside the facility, their earnings won't flow through the economy, he said.
"Do I think they are going to infuse that hard-earned money they get from working here into the local economy? Probably not as much," he said. "Do I see them buying any property here? No. ... Do I see them investing in the economy such as going out and shopping at Kmart or eating at Chili's? No."
San Nicolas also worried the housing facility, which will be as big as a village, could bring all the problems of a village -- including crime.
"If it's such a close community, who knows what happens in there. There could be prostitution and there could be gambling. ... If they are totally self-contained, every society has their vices," San Nicolas said.
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News • January 13, 2010
Hearing: Chamorro activists raise their fists and cheer on the testimony of We Are Guahan group's Melvin Won Pat-Borja at the last public hearing on the Guam/CNMI Military Relocation draft Environmental Impact Statement. The hearing was held at Okkodo High School, yesterday. (Jacqueline Hernandez/Pacific Daily News/jhernande7)
Although the public hearings in Guam are over, residents who still want to comment on the military buildup draft Environmental Impact Statement haven't lost their chance.
You can still submit comments through the Internet or mail, and those comments will be considered the same as those that were presented publicly over the last week.
All comments must be accepted, some comments may reshape the military's plans and some comments won't get a response, retired Marine Corps Col. John Jackson, director of the Joint Guam Program Office, said last night.
"Some of them may be 'Yankee go home' and others may be 'Hey, we are glad you are here,'" Jackson said. "That doesn't really help the decision making. That part of the process of getting comments is to assist the decision-makers, ... to give them the best information from all aspects."
Population
The final hearing last night was held at the Okkodo High School gym and many residents of Dededo attended to learn more about the busy future of their village. Dededo already is the most populous village on Guam, and the coming military buildup will only congest the village even more. The buildup is estimated to bring about 80,000 more people to Guam by 2014, according to the draft Environmental Impact Study.
John G. San Nicolas worries it may be too much. With more residents on island, everyone will have to compete over limited resources, from the shady spots at the beach to the last table at a restaurant, he said.
"With just the sheer number of people on this island, being in such a small confined space, it's only natural to expect that friction is going to occur," he said. "And friction could occur in different places -- the beach, the roads, going to the mall, parties -- from the mere fact that the frequency of us meeting each other is higher."
Many of new residents who move to Guam for the buildup will end up living in the Ukudu Workforce Village, a massive housing facility with all the makings of an entire community, that will be built not far from where the hearing was held last night.
Guam-based Younex Enterprises Corp and a South Korean construction company have already agreed to work together to build the housing facility in the Harmon Annex south of the Navy's south Finegayan housing.
According to Pacific Daily News files, the facility will feed workers and transport them to their jobs and other activities. The facility will include its own 24-hour medical clinics, religious services, entertainment, laundry, banking, convenience stores and emergency services.
The entire project should be finished by 2013, when buildup-related construction is booming. San Nicolas, who lives close to where the housing will be built, worried the facility would bring no benefit to Dededo. Although the buildup promises to bolster the local economy, the facility sounds like it will create an economic vacuum, he said.
If workers in the housing will be imported, much of the money they earn will go off island, he said. And if the workers get their food, services and fun inside the facility, their earnings won't flow through the economy, he said.
"Do I think they are going to infuse that hard-earned money they get from working here into the local economy? Probably not as much," he said. "Do I see them buying any property here? No. ... Do I see them investing in the economy such as going out and shopping at Kmart or eating at Chili's? No."
San Nicolas also worried the housing facility, which will be as big as a village, could bring all the problems of a village -- including crime.
"If it's such a close community, who knows what happens in there. There could be prostitution and there could be gambling. ... If they are totally self-contained, every society has their vices," San Nicolas said.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Residents voice buildup concerns: Final Guam hearing tonight at Okkodo
Residents voice buildup concerns: Final Guam hearing tonight at Okkodo
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News bmkelman@guampdn.com • January 12, 2010
The coming military buildup will bring more planes, more missions -- and more noise -- to northern Guam in the next few years.
Additional noise will fuel more frustration and create more uncomfortable nights for some concerned residents of Yigo and Dededo. Some of them attended a buildup hearing last night.
There are residents like Leodith Abinales, 21, who hated the noise at first but somehow learned to live with it. There are others like Gwendolyn Nelson Taimanglo, who lives just far enough from the runways that jet engines frighten her every time.
If that noise grows more frequent after the buildup, Taimainglo will be "stuck," she said.
The peaceful Wusstig home she has spent so much time and money on will be peaceful no longer, she said.
"An uncomfortable life," she said last night. "It would be like when we have a typhoon and the power is off and everyone's generator is on. You can withstand it for a certain period of time, but then after a while it physically and emotionally wears you out."
Last night's hearing also brought some of the most passionate objection to the buildup from protesters, landowners and a few local senators.
Although aircraft zip in and out of Andersen Air Force Base every day, Taimainglo lives too far away to hear the daily traffic overhead. The aircraft that do come close rattle her sliding glass doors and shake the furniture on the second floor.
"It freaks you out," she said.
According to the draft Environmental Impact Statement, this aircraft activity at Andersen is expected to skyrocket in the next few years. There were about 30,000 flights at Andersen in 2006 and will be more than 99,000 by 2014.
And at least some of these additional flights will happen at night, the draft EIS states.
These additional flights will also create noise in off-base areas where planes and helicopters aren't heard overhead today.
At almost 1,700 acres where aircraft make no noticeable noise today, aircraft from buildup will generate noise at least as loud as a car 100 feet away, the draft EIS states. And the area where aircraft make as much noise as a vacuum cleaner will increase by almost 730 acres.
The jets already sound like a vacuum at Abinales' house, which is barely a mile from the back gate of Andersen.
And the neighborhood dogs bark like crazy every time, she said.
The noise bothered her years ago, but she got used to it. Still, some jets are louder than others and the loudest ones can't be ignored.
"I love jets when they fly through the sky and stuff, but when you want to watch your favorite movie or read or study for school, it's just not nice," she said. "It definitely doesn't help you."
Protest
Although protesters have been present at every public hearing on the military buildup, last night they couldn't be missed. Moments before the public comments began, a group of protesters marched into the middle of the Yigo gym to sing and speak.
Danny Jackson led the group dressed only in a shell necklace and a loincloth. His grandson walked by his side, blowing a conch-shell horn called a ku'lu.
Speaker Judith Won Pat and Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz were at the front of the group.
Jackson urged his fellow islanders to stand against the buildup in his native language.
"If we don't do it now, we will be destroyed by the federal government atrocities in our own homeland," Jackson said later, in English.
Sen. Ben Pangelinan said the federal government was purposely spreading lies about the buildup to deceive residents. The crowd erupted in applause as he spoke.
Pangelinan said the buildup is only in the best interest of mainlanders.
He said only off-island companies will benefit from the buildup's economic boost. He said expanded military installations will ruin the environment and destroy artifacts and cultural sites without the public ever knowing.
"I don't want (the military) desecrating those ancestral burial grounds. I don't want (the military) bombing and shooting the spirits of our ancestors that rest in Pagat," Pangelinan said.
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News bmkelman@guampdn.com • January 12, 2010
The coming military buildup will bring more planes, more missions -- and more noise -- to northern Guam in the next few years.
Additional noise will fuel more frustration and create more uncomfortable nights for some concerned residents of Yigo and Dededo. Some of them attended a buildup hearing last night.
There are residents like Leodith Abinales, 21, who hated the noise at first but somehow learned to live with it. There are others like Gwendolyn Nelson Taimanglo, who lives just far enough from the runways that jet engines frighten her every time.
If that noise grows more frequent after the buildup, Taimainglo will be "stuck," she said.
The peaceful Wusstig home she has spent so much time and money on will be peaceful no longer, she said.
"An uncomfortable life," she said last night. "It would be like when we have a typhoon and the power is off and everyone's generator is on. You can withstand it for a certain period of time, but then after a while it physically and emotionally wears you out."
Last night's hearing also brought some of the most passionate objection to the buildup from protesters, landowners and a few local senators.
Although aircraft zip in and out of Andersen Air Force Base every day, Taimainglo lives too far away to hear the daily traffic overhead. The aircraft that do come close rattle her sliding glass doors and shake the furniture on the second floor.
"It freaks you out," she said.
According to the draft Environmental Impact Statement, this aircraft activity at Andersen is expected to skyrocket in the next few years. There were about 30,000 flights at Andersen in 2006 and will be more than 99,000 by 2014.
And at least some of these additional flights will happen at night, the draft EIS states.
These additional flights will also create noise in off-base areas where planes and helicopters aren't heard overhead today.
At almost 1,700 acres where aircraft make no noticeable noise today, aircraft from buildup will generate noise at least as loud as a car 100 feet away, the draft EIS states. And the area where aircraft make as much noise as a vacuum cleaner will increase by almost 730 acres.
The jets already sound like a vacuum at Abinales' house, which is barely a mile from the back gate of Andersen.
And the neighborhood dogs bark like crazy every time, she said.
The noise bothered her years ago, but she got used to it. Still, some jets are louder than others and the loudest ones can't be ignored.
"I love jets when they fly through the sky and stuff, but when you want to watch your favorite movie or read or study for school, it's just not nice," she said. "It definitely doesn't help you."
Protest
Although protesters have been present at every public hearing on the military buildup, last night they couldn't be missed. Moments before the public comments began, a group of protesters marched into the middle of the Yigo gym to sing and speak.
Danny Jackson led the group dressed only in a shell necklace and a loincloth. His grandson walked by his side, blowing a conch-shell horn called a ku'lu.
Speaker Judith Won Pat and Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz were at the front of the group.
Jackson urged his fellow islanders to stand against the buildup in his native language.
"If we don't do it now, we will be destroyed by the federal government atrocities in our own homeland," Jackson said later, in English.
Sen. Ben Pangelinan said the federal government was purposely spreading lies about the buildup to deceive residents. The crowd erupted in applause as he spoke.
Pangelinan said the buildup is only in the best interest of mainlanders.
He said only off-island companies will benefit from the buildup's economic boost. He said expanded military installations will ruin the environment and destroy artifacts and cultural sites without the public ever knowing.
"I don't want (the military) desecrating those ancestral burial grounds. I don't want (the military) bombing and shooting the spirits of our ancestors that rest in Pagat," Pangelinan said.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Military negotiates with 3 landowners
Military negotiates with 3 landowners
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News • January 11, 2010
The military is already negotiating with the three landowners whose property will most likely be absorbed into the new firing range on Guam's northeast coast.
On Thursday night, retired Maj. Gen. David Bice, executive director of the Joint Guam Program Office, said he was certain the landowners and the Department of Defense will reach an agreement that benefits everyone.
"We've talked to those landowners, and I am very confident that we can reach an agreement," Bice said. "I'm a landowner, I'm a farmer. I know about land rights and property rights ... I am not going to be involved with any process that takes other people's land."
Bice was so certain an agreement would be reached that he declined to discuss what would happen if parties didn't see eye to eye. He would not discuss "speculation."
Sen. Judith Guthertz, who is chairwoman of the Legislature's buildup committee, is not so confident the landowners will part with their property.
"I think he's wrong," Guthertz said. "I know some of the families he is speaking of."
Although Bice said only three landowners are likely to be affected by the construction of the firing range, land acquisition has quickly become one of the most combative issues brought on by the coming military buildup.
Pagat Cave
The buildup will require the Department of Defense to expand its borders and place access restrictions for civilians to some land it owns. At the center of this issue is a large tract of land near Pagat Cave where a firing range will be built.
On Dec. 29, 2009, more than 50 people attended a public hearing on a legislative resolution against the condemnation of local property. More than 30 of them spoke in favor of the resolution, while only one spoke against it.
Some of them are concerned residents who have land in the valley area near Marbo Cave, Bice said. They are "inappropriately worried" their land will be acquired, but it's unlikely, he added.
The ridgeline is the primary site for the firing range and the valley is the backup. And the ridgeline is preferred by a wide margin, Bice said.
According to the draft Environmental Impact Statement, nearly all of the land on the ridgeline belongs to GovGuam, not individuals.
Community concern
On Friday, Guthertz said it didn't matter if the military wanted the land of one family or a thousand. They had an island full of support, she said.
Many of Guam's residents are still angry the military took land from local people after World War II and didn't fairly compensate them, she said. The island felt indebted and the military took advantage of them, she said.
This frustration runs deep, she said.
"They just really hate the idea because they feel there was a lot of injustice done," Guthertz said.
Although some protesters may not own any land that will be acquired for the coming military buildup, they are still concerned their fellow islanders will be taken advantage of again, Guthertz said.
"(Bice) shouldn't assume because it's only one to three families they will voluntarily agree to sell or lease their land, even if he has a hammer over their head ..." Guthertz said.
If the military makes an offer that the private landowners actually want, no one should object to the transfer of land, Guthertz said.
Public lands
The military must also acquire some public land from GovGuam that isn't owned by any single resident but is shared by the community.
The Defense Department is already discussing the acquisition of this land with local leaders, like the governor and senators, to broker a deal, Bice said.
"Everyone is looking for the highest and best use in terms of any potential compensation for that," Bice said. "Having had discussions with everyone -- with all stakeholders -- I am convinced that we are going to reach an agreement."
For John Sarmiento, a discussion with local leaders isn't good enough.
Sarmiento, 17, is a member of We Are Guahan, a group protesting the buildup and draft EIS.
During a public hearing on Thursday night, Sarmiento said the buildup hadn't been planned on the terms of average citizens.
The buildup became inevitable before it was ever discussed with the public, he said.
"It was an order handed down, and then we were informed. We were never part of the dialogue like they say we were," Sarmiento said. "Even if the Legislature or the governor do represent the people, I think they failed on their part to really connect with us."
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News • January 11, 2010
The military is already negotiating with the three landowners whose property will most likely be absorbed into the new firing range on Guam's northeast coast.
On Thursday night, retired Maj. Gen. David Bice, executive director of the Joint Guam Program Office, said he was certain the landowners and the Department of Defense will reach an agreement that benefits everyone.
"We've talked to those landowners, and I am very confident that we can reach an agreement," Bice said. "I'm a landowner, I'm a farmer. I know about land rights and property rights ... I am not going to be involved with any process that takes other people's land."
Bice was so certain an agreement would be reached that he declined to discuss what would happen if parties didn't see eye to eye. He would not discuss "speculation."
Sen. Judith Guthertz, who is chairwoman of the Legislature's buildup committee, is not so confident the landowners will part with their property.
"I think he's wrong," Guthertz said. "I know some of the families he is speaking of."
Although Bice said only three landowners are likely to be affected by the construction of the firing range, land acquisition has quickly become one of the most combative issues brought on by the coming military buildup.
Pagat Cave
The buildup will require the Department of Defense to expand its borders and place access restrictions for civilians to some land it owns. At the center of this issue is a large tract of land near Pagat Cave where a firing range will be built.
On Dec. 29, 2009, more than 50 people attended a public hearing on a legislative resolution against the condemnation of local property. More than 30 of them spoke in favor of the resolution, while only one spoke against it.
Some of them are concerned residents who have land in the valley area near Marbo Cave, Bice said. They are "inappropriately worried" their land will be acquired, but it's unlikely, he added.
The ridgeline is the primary site for the firing range and the valley is the backup. And the ridgeline is preferred by a wide margin, Bice said.
According to the draft Environmental Impact Statement, nearly all of the land on the ridgeline belongs to GovGuam, not individuals.
Community concern
On Friday, Guthertz said it didn't matter if the military wanted the land of one family or a thousand. They had an island full of support, she said.
Many of Guam's residents are still angry the military took land from local people after World War II and didn't fairly compensate them, she said. The island felt indebted and the military took advantage of them, she said.
This frustration runs deep, she said.
"They just really hate the idea because they feel there was a lot of injustice done," Guthertz said.
Although some protesters may not own any land that will be acquired for the coming military buildup, they are still concerned their fellow islanders will be taken advantage of again, Guthertz said.
"(Bice) shouldn't assume because it's only one to three families they will voluntarily agree to sell or lease their land, even if he has a hammer over their head ..." Guthertz said.
If the military makes an offer that the private landowners actually want, no one should object to the transfer of land, Guthertz said.
Public lands
The military must also acquire some public land from GovGuam that isn't owned by any single resident but is shared by the community.
The Defense Department is already discussing the acquisition of this land with local leaders, like the governor and senators, to broker a deal, Bice said.
"Everyone is looking for the highest and best use in terms of any potential compensation for that," Bice said. "Having had discussions with everyone -- with all stakeholders -- I am convinced that we are going to reach an agreement."
For John Sarmiento, a discussion with local leaders isn't good enough.
Sarmiento, 17, is a member of We Are Guahan, a group protesting the buildup and draft EIS.
During a public hearing on Thursday night, Sarmiento said the buildup hadn't been planned on the terms of average citizens.
The buildup became inevitable before it was ever discussed with the public, he said.
"It was an order handed down, and then we were informed. We were never part of the dialogue like they say we were," Sarmiento said. "Even if the Legislature or the governor do represent the people, I think they failed on their part to really connect with us."
Residents air buidup concerns: Health care, land issues raised at UOG field house
Residents air buidup concerns: Health care, land issues raised at UOG field house
By Laura Matthews • Pacific Sunday News • January 10, 2010
The University of Guam's field house teemed with varying emotions yesterday when more than 500 people gathered to publicly comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Die-hard activists, determined landowners, concerned citizens and officials paced the floor of the field house, reading all the information on display. They talked with military officials about the buildup, in order to learn all they could before the public comment session.
Signs that read: "Only independent nations control immigration" and "Yankee go home!" showed military officials where they stood with some residents.
Then, the conch shells were blown, the Guam national anthem was sung and the proceedings for the second public hearing on the draft Environmental Impact Statement got underway.
The first speaker on the day was Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz, who expressed public health concerns as Guam prepares to get about 20 years of growth over the next five years because of the military buildup.
Approximately 8,000 Marines and their 9,000 dependents will be brought to the island. In total, the buildup is projected to bring about 80,000 people to Guam by 2014, which will increase Guam's population by almost half its current size.
"My main concern is that the hospital is the choke point," Cruz said. "We just don't have enough beds to take care of the people coming."
The vice speaker told Department of Defense officials that he would like for the final Environmental Impact Statement to be "very specific" about how it is going to address the need for more hospital beds on island.
"The hospital is unable to take care of us at this time. We are short of doctors," he said.
The draft Environmental Impact Statement notes that the island's health-care system will need a personnel increase of 26 percent in order to deal with the growth. It also states that at the peak of the construction phase in 2014, an additional 15 doctors and 91 nurses will be needed.
Land concerns
Some residents expressed worry they might lose their land.
Juan Martinez Unpingco, an 85-year-old Sasayan Valley landowner, said he worked two jobs throughout his lifetime in order to feed his eight children and save enough money to buy property. That piece of property, he said, sustaines his livelihood.
"This has obviously paid off since it has been helping me to pay all my medical bills," Unpingco said. "Thus, the property I own in Marbo Cave has indeed sustained my livelihood and I plan to deed it to my children upon my death. I anticipate that my children would do likewise and deed the property onto the next generation."
He said he fears the military will take his land through condemnation and asked them not to.
"I am in support of the military buildup, provided there is no land condemnation," he said. "It was my bread and butter. I worked very hard for it. I will sell it or rent it."
Joint Guam Program Office Executive Director David Bice, a retired Marine major general whose office oversees the buildup, has said that residents whose lands are used for military projects will get a fair price. The Defense Department follows strict procedures to pay landowners the fair market value, he said, also noting that congressional defense committees would first have to approve any major land acquisitions by the military.
Juan Unpingco's son, Superior Court of Guam Judge Steven S. Unpingco, also a private landowner, said the draft Environmental Impact Statement fails to address "the contentious issue" of land condemnation. Moreover, the Sasayan Valley area is a proposed alternative for a live firing range -- an idea he said should be dismissed.
"Equally important to the public is the impact that explosive grenade and demolition ranges may have on the environment," he said. "Is there any specific study on any potential environmental degradation or possible lead contamination from these activities on soil?"
Speaking out
Melvin Won Pat-Borja, a 28-year-old teacher and member of the We Are Guahan group, said his generation should know that it is important to let their voices be heard. They don't need to be "a scientist or an expert to comment on the EIS," he said.
The group is a combination of residents who seek to disseminate the information from the lengthy draft Environmental Impact Statement to ordinary citizens in a way that is easily understood.
"This problem will not affect the people who are making the decisions. It will ultimately be our youth," he said. "I have students who will be graduating this year and will possibly be graduating college in four years. And when they want to come back home and raise their families here and make a living here, things will not be the same as they were when they left. This island will not be the same as it was when they left."
Residents have until Feb. 17 to submit their comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement, which will reshape nearly all aspects of life on Guam.
The public meetings are a way the military officials garner the concerns of the citizens, which will be evaluated and taken into consideration to make better decisions as the military moves forward with the final EIS, Bice said.
By Laura Matthews • Pacific Sunday News • January 10, 2010
The University of Guam's field house teemed with varying emotions yesterday when more than 500 people gathered to publicly comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Die-hard activists, determined landowners, concerned citizens and officials paced the floor of the field house, reading all the information on display. They talked with military officials about the buildup, in order to learn all they could before the public comment session.
Signs that read: "Only independent nations control immigration" and "Yankee go home!" showed military officials where they stood with some residents.
Then, the conch shells were blown, the Guam national anthem was sung and the proceedings for the second public hearing on the draft Environmental Impact Statement got underway.
The first speaker on the day was Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz, who expressed public health concerns as Guam prepares to get about 20 years of growth over the next five years because of the military buildup.
Approximately 8,000 Marines and their 9,000 dependents will be brought to the island. In total, the buildup is projected to bring about 80,000 people to Guam by 2014, which will increase Guam's population by almost half its current size.
"My main concern is that the hospital is the choke point," Cruz said. "We just don't have enough beds to take care of the people coming."
The vice speaker told Department of Defense officials that he would like for the final Environmental Impact Statement to be "very specific" about how it is going to address the need for more hospital beds on island.
"The hospital is unable to take care of us at this time. We are short of doctors," he said.
The draft Environmental Impact Statement notes that the island's health-care system will need a personnel increase of 26 percent in order to deal with the growth. It also states that at the peak of the construction phase in 2014, an additional 15 doctors and 91 nurses will be needed.
Land concerns
Some residents expressed worry they might lose their land.
Juan Martinez Unpingco, an 85-year-old Sasayan Valley landowner, said he worked two jobs throughout his lifetime in order to feed his eight children and save enough money to buy property. That piece of property, he said, sustaines his livelihood.
"This has obviously paid off since it has been helping me to pay all my medical bills," Unpingco said. "Thus, the property I own in Marbo Cave has indeed sustained my livelihood and I plan to deed it to my children upon my death. I anticipate that my children would do likewise and deed the property onto the next generation."
He said he fears the military will take his land through condemnation and asked them not to.
"I am in support of the military buildup, provided there is no land condemnation," he said. "It was my bread and butter. I worked very hard for it. I will sell it or rent it."
Joint Guam Program Office Executive Director David Bice, a retired Marine major general whose office oversees the buildup, has said that residents whose lands are used for military projects will get a fair price. The Defense Department follows strict procedures to pay landowners the fair market value, he said, also noting that congressional defense committees would first have to approve any major land acquisitions by the military.
Juan Unpingco's son, Superior Court of Guam Judge Steven S. Unpingco, also a private landowner, said the draft Environmental Impact Statement fails to address "the contentious issue" of land condemnation. Moreover, the Sasayan Valley area is a proposed alternative for a live firing range -- an idea he said should be dismissed.
"Equally important to the public is the impact that explosive grenade and demolition ranges may have on the environment," he said. "Is there any specific study on any potential environmental degradation or possible lead contamination from these activities on soil?"
Speaking out
Melvin Won Pat-Borja, a 28-year-old teacher and member of the We Are Guahan group, said his generation should know that it is important to let their voices be heard. They don't need to be "a scientist or an expert to comment on the EIS," he said.
The group is a combination of residents who seek to disseminate the information from the lengthy draft Environmental Impact Statement to ordinary citizens in a way that is easily understood.
"This problem will not affect the people who are making the decisions. It will ultimately be our youth," he said. "I have students who will be graduating this year and will possibly be graduating college in four years. And when they want to come back home and raise their families here and make a living here, things will not be the same as they were when they left. This island will not be the same as it was when they left."
Residents have until Feb. 17 to submit their comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement, which will reshape nearly all aspects of life on Guam.
The public meetings are a way the military officials garner the concerns of the citizens, which will be evaluated and taken into consideration to make better decisions as the military moves forward with the final EIS, Bice said.
Tiyan Taskforce wants land return bill changed: Landowners ask for a set timeline for Ancestral Lands to process cases
Tiyan Taskforce wants land return bill changed: Landowners ask for a set timeline for Ancestral Lands to process cases
By Laura Matthews • Pacific Sunday News • January 10, 2010
A group of Tiyan landowners met yesterday to discuss Bill 278-30, which they believe must include a second section in order for the heirs of original landowners to stand a chance of receiving their estates.
Benny Crawford, chairman of the Tiyan Taskforce, said at a meeting held yesterday at Christ Bible Fellowship Church in Upper Tumon that the second section must include specific language that states how long the Ancestral Lands Commission will take to process each landowner's case and issue the deeds.
A public hearing will be held on the matter on Jan. 14 at the Legislature, where Tiyan landowners hope to persuade senators to move forward with the land exchange.
"Specific language is important with the government of Guam because if it isn't, we will never get anywhere," Crawford said. "It has to be specific for it to happen."
The one-section Bill 278-30 consists of seven lines that identify parcels of land in the Tiyan area that are pending return to the original landowners or their heirs. However, former Sen. Pete Perez said the weakness in the measure is that it doesn't provide any mechanism to transfer the land back to the heirs.
Perez, who is also an attorney assisting the Tiyan Taskforce, told the landowners that without any specific wording or language, it could be some time before they get the land.
"If you are going to rely simply on that measure, I can assure everyone here that you will never see a square inch of land," Perez said. "The one-section bill says nothing about actually returning any land to any of you. ... It is up to everyone here to come out and say the measure doesn't go far enough."
Crawford said he hopes a specification of 180 days will be made as a timeline for the return of the land. He added that the Tiyan Taskforce has identified 49 landowners for the roughly 800 acres of land in question.
Ronald T. Laguana, who is representing one of seven heirs to Lot 2156, said he believes adding specific language to the document will assist the landowners in reacquiring the land.
"The language should be included that these lands be identified by the list of names of the original landowners, if possible," Laguana said.
By Laura Matthews • Pacific Sunday News • January 10, 2010
A group of Tiyan landowners met yesterday to discuss Bill 278-30, which they believe must include a second section in order for the heirs of original landowners to stand a chance of receiving their estates.
Benny Crawford, chairman of the Tiyan Taskforce, said at a meeting held yesterday at Christ Bible Fellowship Church in Upper Tumon that the second section must include specific language that states how long the Ancestral Lands Commission will take to process each landowner's case and issue the deeds.
A public hearing will be held on the matter on Jan. 14 at the Legislature, where Tiyan landowners hope to persuade senators to move forward with the land exchange.
"Specific language is important with the government of Guam because if it isn't, we will never get anywhere," Crawford said. "It has to be specific for it to happen."
The one-section Bill 278-30 consists of seven lines that identify parcels of land in the Tiyan area that are pending return to the original landowners or their heirs. However, former Sen. Pete Perez said the weakness in the measure is that it doesn't provide any mechanism to transfer the land back to the heirs.
Perez, who is also an attorney assisting the Tiyan Taskforce, told the landowners that without any specific wording or language, it could be some time before they get the land.
"If you are going to rely simply on that measure, I can assure everyone here that you will never see a square inch of land," Perez said. "The one-section bill says nothing about actually returning any land to any of you. ... It is up to everyone here to come out and say the measure doesn't go far enough."
Crawford said he hopes a specification of 180 days will be made as a timeline for the return of the land. He added that the Tiyan Taskforce has identified 49 landowners for the roughly 800 acres of land in question.
Ronald T. Laguana, who is representing one of seven heirs to Lot 2156, said he believes adding specific language to the document will assist the landowners in reacquiring the land.
"The language should be included that these lands be identified by the list of names of the original landowners, if possible," Laguana said.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Landowners may again get short end of the stick
Landowners may again get short end of the stick
Posted: Jan 07, 2010 9:15 PM PST
by Janjeera Hail
Guam - Concerns are being raised over planned construction in South Finegayan, and it appears local landowners may, once again, be getting the short end of the stick. "It's all for the benefit of this construction. How about us, the property owners?" questioned Terri Aguon.
Local landowners are demanding answers as to why the Guam Land Use Commission is allowing Younex Corporation to build roads up to 100 feet wide that cut across private land. The proposed roads would create access from Route 3 to barracks that will house 18,000 of the corporation's employees in the Harmon Annex.
Land Management Chief Planner Carl Untalan says the department's hands are tied because the land was already designated as easements and is GovGuam property, separate from the lots returned to landowners several years ago. "What we try and relay to them is that this is an encumbrance that we did not create. We basically at this point in time for lack of anything else could be done to it, we'll have to live with it at least for the moment," he said.
Untalan showed KUAM News an aerial view of the property that illustrates an existing road on the designated easement and explained that Younex would only be expanding it.
But Aguon, a second-generation landowner, says that doesn't justify allowing the construction of a road up to 100 feet wide.
She said, "Maybe the road exists after the Government of Guam took over and didn't give it back to the land owners. But thing is why 100 feet wide? My surveyor found 40 feet. Why now 100 feet?"
Ike Pangelinan, a third-generation landowner, says Younex has other options. He says the corporation can create access by using an easement on their property identified on 1950's surveys of the land, that for some reason were not identified on a 1995 map by Perry and Associates.
He said, "And we noticed on Lot 53-12 through the northwest there's a bullcart trail there on the Younex side, so they don't like that because they want to take more from us, and less on their side. We're going to lose. I would recommend we follow the original map of 1953 and 1956 maps and I have those maps and I got that from land management."
The Land Use Commission, however, maintains that even if the easements aren't used by Younex, the landowners won't be able to do anything else on it except build a road, too. "If it did not do it in those fashion, none of those landowners could actually use those easements unless they individually approached the easement holder to obtain a grant of easement because it was never returned," he said.
Landowners will be able to air their grievances when the Legislature hears arguments regarding zoning changes in the area, but the Legislature will only be able to make changes if its determined that they were unfairly designated as easements. Regardless of the outcome, this issue may only be the tip of the iceberg as Guam prepares for a massive influx in population in the coming years.
As local residents prepare to bring their concerns regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement to the military, this episode is making it all too clear that the military buildup will bring with it a new foe: foreign corporations.
Posted: Jan 07, 2010 9:15 PM PST
by Janjeera Hail
Guam - Concerns are being raised over planned construction in South Finegayan, and it appears local landowners may, once again, be getting the short end of the stick. "It's all for the benefit of this construction. How about us, the property owners?" questioned Terri Aguon.
Local landowners are demanding answers as to why the Guam Land Use Commission is allowing Younex Corporation to build roads up to 100 feet wide that cut across private land. The proposed roads would create access from Route 3 to barracks that will house 18,000 of the corporation's employees in the Harmon Annex.
Land Management Chief Planner Carl Untalan says the department's hands are tied because the land was already designated as easements and is GovGuam property, separate from the lots returned to landowners several years ago. "What we try and relay to them is that this is an encumbrance that we did not create. We basically at this point in time for lack of anything else could be done to it, we'll have to live with it at least for the moment," he said.
Untalan showed KUAM News an aerial view of the property that illustrates an existing road on the designated easement and explained that Younex would only be expanding it.
But Aguon, a second-generation landowner, says that doesn't justify allowing the construction of a road up to 100 feet wide.
She said, "Maybe the road exists after the Government of Guam took over and didn't give it back to the land owners. But thing is why 100 feet wide? My surveyor found 40 feet. Why now 100 feet?"
Ike Pangelinan, a third-generation landowner, says Younex has other options. He says the corporation can create access by using an easement on their property identified on 1950's surveys of the land, that for some reason were not identified on a 1995 map by Perry and Associates.
He said, "And we noticed on Lot 53-12 through the northwest there's a bullcart trail there on the Younex side, so they don't like that because they want to take more from us, and less on their side. We're going to lose. I would recommend we follow the original map of 1953 and 1956 maps and I have those maps and I got that from land management."
The Land Use Commission, however, maintains that even if the easements aren't used by Younex, the landowners won't be able to do anything else on it except build a road, too. "If it did not do it in those fashion, none of those landowners could actually use those easements unless they individually approached the easement holder to obtain a grant of easement because it was never returned," he said.
Landowners will be able to air their grievances when the Legislature hears arguments regarding zoning changes in the area, but the Legislature will only be able to make changes if its determined that they were unfairly designated as easements. Regardless of the outcome, this issue may only be the tip of the iceberg as Guam prepares for a massive influx in population in the coming years.
As local residents prepare to bring their concerns regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement to the military, this episode is making it all too clear that the military buildup will bring with it a new foe: foreign corporations.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
JGPO: ‘It’s a process’
JGPO: ‘It’s a process’
Friday, 08 January 2010 00:39
by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff
Bice says checks and balances in place to protect landowners
JOINT Guam Program Office executive director General David Bice expressed confidence that mutually acceptable arrangements for acquiring the additional lands – as outlined in the draft environmental impact statement – will eventually be reached.
Bice made his comments during the first planned public hearing for the controversial report last night in Santa Rita.
Close to 100 people attended the hearing of the draft environmental impact statement at Southern High School to learn more about the massive report contained in 10 volumes.
The executive director, trying to assuage fears of military grabs for land like those of the past, Bice explained acquiring new land is a process.
“It has to go through an approval process all the way to congress and a key committee to approve and fund the agreement with the land owners,” he said, noting that Guam delegate Madeleine Bordallo serves on that important board, the House Armed Services Committee. “There are checks and balances all the way through to achieve and insure that this a fair deal for everyone involved,” Bice claimed.
Voicing concerns
Looking around at the set up, Frank Schacher, chairman of the Chamorro Tribe organization, said he had read the draft study in its entirety and came to the hearing to voice his concerns about the entire process.
“I think what we are seeing right now is in conformance with NEPA regulations. That’s the National Environmental Protection Act and were it not for NEPA, we would not even have a voice in this process,” he said.
“And that’s the most disturbing part,” Schacher added. “We’re not being totally represented or directly represented as a people so the impact this would have on the Chamorro people is not a concern to them and has been addressed within the draft impact report, that’s what concerns me. There’s nothing in the [impact statement] that addresses or mitigates the Chamorro rights of the Chamorro people, not one single paragraph,” said native rights group leader.
Some in the community have stated that as it is their perception that the military will do whatever it is they so choose and believe the public input aspect is a futile effort with no real chance of having any sway over foregone conclusions made in the JGPO report.
“This is very much a public process and we want to hear comments from the public on the draft EIS,” assured Bice. “Every comment will be evaluated and analyzed and considered as we look into producing the final EIS.”
Approval
“I think it’s good that we have these hearings and I think it’s good to hear all the view points because I think its good information,” said David Leddy, president of the Guam Chamber of Commerce. “This whole process has to involve our people to get involved and interact.”
When asked about opposition to the draft report, Leddy said the Chamber supports the buildup but maintains his organization is equally concerned about possible adverse affects on the environment and community the massive buildup could have.
“We’re the voice of the businesses, but our members all live in Guam, too. So, we’re looking out for the best interests of our businesses and the community at large and so we’re looking at everything, the Chamber president said.
Leon Guerrero said his family owns property across the street from Camp Covington, Next to Naval Magazine, and near the Sasa River along Route 1, Kellis Leon Guerrero, 48, of Agat, wanted to know how the plans would impact their land.
“They said I wasn’t going to be affected and they have no plans for that area,” the property owner said. “No eminent domain on my part.” As for the buildup, he said he is in favor of the move.
“Guam needs it,” Leon Guerrero said. “With the tourism industry going the way it is right now. The economies of the world especially with the countries we deal with, Japan and Korea, we need funding to build that void and the military buildup will fill the void.”
Friday, 08 January 2010 00:39
by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff
Bice says checks and balances in place to protect landowners
JOINT Guam Program Office executive director General David Bice expressed confidence that mutually acceptable arrangements for acquiring the additional lands – as outlined in the draft environmental impact statement – will eventually be reached.
Bice made his comments during the first planned public hearing for the controversial report last night in Santa Rita.
Close to 100 people attended the hearing of the draft environmental impact statement at Southern High School to learn more about the massive report contained in 10 volumes.
The executive director, trying to assuage fears of military grabs for land like those of the past, Bice explained acquiring new land is a process.
“It has to go through an approval process all the way to congress and a key committee to approve and fund the agreement with the land owners,” he said, noting that Guam delegate Madeleine Bordallo serves on that important board, the House Armed Services Committee. “There are checks and balances all the way through to achieve and insure that this a fair deal for everyone involved,” Bice claimed.
Voicing concerns
Looking around at the set up, Frank Schacher, chairman of the Chamorro Tribe organization, said he had read the draft study in its entirety and came to the hearing to voice his concerns about the entire process.
“I think what we are seeing right now is in conformance with NEPA regulations. That’s the National Environmental Protection Act and were it not for NEPA, we would not even have a voice in this process,” he said.
“And that’s the most disturbing part,” Schacher added. “We’re not being totally represented or directly represented as a people so the impact this would have on the Chamorro people is not a concern to them and has been addressed within the draft impact report, that’s what concerns me. There’s nothing in the [impact statement] that addresses or mitigates the Chamorro rights of the Chamorro people, not one single paragraph,” said native rights group leader.
Some in the community have stated that as it is their perception that the military will do whatever it is they so choose and believe the public input aspect is a futile effort with no real chance of having any sway over foregone conclusions made in the JGPO report.
“This is very much a public process and we want to hear comments from the public on the draft EIS,” assured Bice. “Every comment will be evaluated and analyzed and considered as we look into producing the final EIS.”
Approval
“I think it’s good that we have these hearings and I think it’s good to hear all the view points because I think its good information,” said David Leddy, president of the Guam Chamber of Commerce. “This whole process has to involve our people to get involved and interact.”
When asked about opposition to the draft report, Leddy said the Chamber supports the buildup but maintains his organization is equally concerned about possible adverse affects on the environment and community the massive buildup could have.
“We’re the voice of the businesses, but our members all live in Guam, too. So, we’re looking out for the best interests of our businesses and the community at large and so we’re looking at everything, the Chamber president said.
Leon Guerrero said his family owns property across the street from Camp Covington, Next to Naval Magazine, and near the Sasa River along Route 1, Kellis Leon Guerrero, 48, of Agat, wanted to know how the plans would impact their land.
“They said I wasn’t going to be affected and they have no plans for that area,” the property owner said. “No eminent domain on my part.” As for the buildup, he said he is in favor of the move.
“Guam needs it,” Leon Guerrero said. “With the tourism industry going the way it is right now. The economies of the world especially with the countries we deal with, Japan and Korea, we need funding to build that void and the military buildup will fill the void.”
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Lease, sell or fight: Landowners weigh buildup options
Lease, sell or fight: Landowners weigh buildup options
By Amritha Alladi • Pacific Daily News • January 7, 2010
Some Guam residents have urged the federal government not to condemn their land for military buildup projects or any other federal use.
But those landowners would probably benefit by considering leasing or selling their land to the government for buildup or other federal projects, especially since history has shown when the federal government wants to implement something, it does it, said Benny Crawford, chairman of the Tiyan Taskforce.
Otherwise, landowners may lose their chance to negotiate a price that could incorporate the value of the land as it appreciates in future years, he said.
"I think the whole idea of requesting not to condemn land is a good idea. However, knowing that if they're going to take the land they're going to do it anyway, the better possibility would be to sit down and negotiate with them," Crawford said. "It may be worth $1 an acre right now, but in the next three years that dollar's going to jump up, so in the negotiation process, you can look at what the fair market value is and go for a projection ... down the road and see what the projection would be," he said.
Some of the island's landowners voiced opposition to land condemnation for the buildup during a Dec. 29 public hearing on Resolution 258. The public hearing on the resolution, which asks the federal government to avoid condemnation of land for buildup or other federal projects, was an opportunity for Guam residents to voice their land acquisition concerns to the military.
Guam residents will have more opportunities to voice their opinion on the military buildup during a series of public meetings on the buildup's draft Environmental Impact Statement.
The first public meeting is scheduled for today at Southern High School. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., residents can view informative displays and ask experts questions. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., attendees can take turns making comments, according to the Joint Guam Program Office.
Land acquisition is among the thorny buildup issues for the host community.
"I think it's very clear that, if the buildup is going to be predicated on condemning land, then there's going to be problems," said Sen. Judith Guthertz, author of the resolution and chairwoman of the Legislature's buildup committee.
But some landowners including Catherine McCollum and Gloria Nelson said they didn't want to give up their lands because it held too much sentimental value, and the properties had been in their families for generations.
"Our lands are our homes," Nelson said in her testimony. "They are the places that build our identity as Guamanians and Chamorros."
"I don't believe outsiders can come in here and tell us what to do and how to do it," McCollum added. "They gotta do it the right way and not take it from where we stand."
Plus, the military already owns one-third of Guam's land mass, residents argued, and that should be enough to carry out the Defense Department's objectives.
The only person to speak against the resolution during the hearing on the resolution was local businessman James Adkins, who said he had his land in Georgia taken once when the federal government wanted to build a highway. Adkins said his family wasn't given the price they had originally wanted, but after taking it to the courts and going through the regular proceedings, they got the amount they had requested.
"There's ways to work (it) out even though there's a condemnation. You can get money -- much more than what some guy who walk in says, 'This is what we want to offer you,'" Adkins testified at the hearing.
Just compensation
Siska Hutapea, managing partner and chief appraiser at Captain, Hutapea & Associates explained how the government provides "just compensation," for the lands that it acquires.
Just compensation, as defined by The Dictionary of Real Estate, refers to the amount of loss for which a property owner is compensated when his or her property is taken, she said.
If the land is partially acquired by the government, appraisers first determine the value of the larger parcel and then determine the value of the damages to your property as a result of the taking, as well as the advantages to your property, Hutapea said. For example, the government's partial acquisition of a person's land may give the land a weird shape, but may give more road access, she said.
"Just compensation includes the value of the land they're taking plus damages minus the benefit," Hutapea said. "It should put the owner in as good a position as he or she would be if the property had not been taken. So it's generally held to be market value, but courts have refused to rule that it's always equivalent to the market value," she added.
However, according to Ron McNinch, associate professor of public administration at the University of Guam, Guam's unique history shows landowners feel they weren't fairly compensated when their lands were condemned after World War II. It's that resentment that landowners brought with them to last week's hearing.
"Through the repeated condemnation of our homes, our identity and sense of self is also condemned," Nelson said. "In the Chamorro spirit of inafa maolek, if I have something you need and I can give it, I will offer. But I have nothing left to give."
Fair price
For those skeptical of whether they'll get a fair price if the lands are condemned this time around, Joint Guam Program Office Executive Director David Bice, a retired Marine major general whose office oversees the buildup, assured on Dec. 24 that if the Defense Department decides it is necessary to acquire land, strict procedures will be followed to pay landowners the fair market value.
"Further, any proposed major DOD land acquisitions effort, such as those associated with the preferred main cantonment and live-fire range alternatives, must be approved by the Congressional defense committees, including the House Armed Services Committee where Congresswoman Bordallo is a member," Bice wrote to Guthertz on Dec. 24.
By Amritha Alladi • Pacific Daily News • January 7, 2010
Some Guam residents have urged the federal government not to condemn their land for military buildup projects or any other federal use.
But those landowners would probably benefit by considering leasing or selling their land to the government for buildup or other federal projects, especially since history has shown when the federal government wants to implement something, it does it, said Benny Crawford, chairman of the Tiyan Taskforce.
Otherwise, landowners may lose their chance to negotiate a price that could incorporate the value of the land as it appreciates in future years, he said.
"I think the whole idea of requesting not to condemn land is a good idea. However, knowing that if they're going to take the land they're going to do it anyway, the better possibility would be to sit down and negotiate with them," Crawford said. "It may be worth $1 an acre right now, but in the next three years that dollar's going to jump up, so in the negotiation process, you can look at what the fair market value is and go for a projection ... down the road and see what the projection would be," he said.
Some of the island's landowners voiced opposition to land condemnation for the buildup during a Dec. 29 public hearing on Resolution 258. The public hearing on the resolution, which asks the federal government to avoid condemnation of land for buildup or other federal projects, was an opportunity for Guam residents to voice their land acquisition concerns to the military.
Guam residents will have more opportunities to voice their opinion on the military buildup during a series of public meetings on the buildup's draft Environmental Impact Statement.
The first public meeting is scheduled for today at Southern High School. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., residents can view informative displays and ask experts questions. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., attendees can take turns making comments, according to the Joint Guam Program Office.
Land acquisition is among the thorny buildup issues for the host community.
"I think it's very clear that, if the buildup is going to be predicated on condemning land, then there's going to be problems," said Sen. Judith Guthertz, author of the resolution and chairwoman of the Legislature's buildup committee.
But some landowners including Catherine McCollum and Gloria Nelson said they didn't want to give up their lands because it held too much sentimental value, and the properties had been in their families for generations.
"Our lands are our homes," Nelson said in her testimony. "They are the places that build our identity as Guamanians and Chamorros."
"I don't believe outsiders can come in here and tell us what to do and how to do it," McCollum added. "They gotta do it the right way and not take it from where we stand."
Plus, the military already owns one-third of Guam's land mass, residents argued, and that should be enough to carry out the Defense Department's objectives.
The only person to speak against the resolution during the hearing on the resolution was local businessman James Adkins, who said he had his land in Georgia taken once when the federal government wanted to build a highway. Adkins said his family wasn't given the price they had originally wanted, but after taking it to the courts and going through the regular proceedings, they got the amount they had requested.
"There's ways to work (it) out even though there's a condemnation. You can get money -- much more than what some guy who walk in says, 'This is what we want to offer you,'" Adkins testified at the hearing.
Just compensation
Siska Hutapea, managing partner and chief appraiser at Captain, Hutapea & Associates explained how the government provides "just compensation," for the lands that it acquires.
Just compensation, as defined by The Dictionary of Real Estate, refers to the amount of loss for which a property owner is compensated when his or her property is taken, she said.
If the land is partially acquired by the government, appraisers first determine the value of the larger parcel and then determine the value of the damages to your property as a result of the taking, as well as the advantages to your property, Hutapea said. For example, the government's partial acquisition of a person's land may give the land a weird shape, but may give more road access, she said.
"Just compensation includes the value of the land they're taking plus damages minus the benefit," Hutapea said. "It should put the owner in as good a position as he or she would be if the property had not been taken. So it's generally held to be market value, but courts have refused to rule that it's always equivalent to the market value," she added.
However, according to Ron McNinch, associate professor of public administration at the University of Guam, Guam's unique history shows landowners feel they weren't fairly compensated when their lands were condemned after World War II. It's that resentment that landowners brought with them to last week's hearing.
"Through the repeated condemnation of our homes, our identity and sense of self is also condemned," Nelson said. "In the Chamorro spirit of inafa maolek, if I have something you need and I can give it, I will offer. But I have nothing left to give."
Fair price
For those skeptical of whether they'll get a fair price if the lands are condemned this time around, Joint Guam Program Office Executive Director David Bice, a retired Marine major general whose office oversees the buildup, assured on Dec. 24 that if the Defense Department decides it is necessary to acquire land, strict procedures will be followed to pay landowners the fair market value.
"Further, any proposed major DOD land acquisitions effort, such as those associated with the preferred main cantonment and live-fire range alternatives, must be approved by the Congressional defense committees, including the House Armed Services Committee where Congresswoman Bordallo is a member," Bice wrote to Guthertz on Dec. 24.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Landowners oppose GLUC roadway decision
Landowners oppose GLUC roadway decision
By Laura Matthews • Pacific Daily News • January 4, 2010
Some Harmon Annex landowners are opposed to the Guam Land Use Commission's decision to grant Younex International sections of Dededo land to build a 100-foot wide roadway that they said will take away from their properties.
Ike Pangelinan, a 57-year-old landowner, said the commission did not adequately inform all the landowners in the area before making its decision at a Dec. 10, 2009 public hearing.
Meeting
The landowners called a meeting yesterday, and only one of them, Terry Aguon, said she received a letter from the Department of Land Management outlining how the parcels of land is to be used.
Now they are asking that the department call a meeting with the landowners and all the major stakeholders so they can share their concerns.
"They skipped me," Pangelinan said. "And right now it is already passed."
According to the letter sent to Terry Aguon dated Nov. 23, 2009, Parcel J and Parcel K, which includes several lots owned by various landowners, would be reviewed by the GLUC as public access or utilities right-of-way.
Right-of-way
"Should these easements be known as Public Access or Utilities Right-of-Way, it will allow for its improvement and placement of other critical infrastructure that will benefit you as well," the letter stated.
Some of the parcels and lots, which are located off of Route 3 in Dededo and known as the Harmon Annex, were transferred from the federal government to the Government of Guam and are under the administration of the Department of Public Works.
The planned easement would allow for Younex to develop a road that will be needed for the new Ukudu Workforce Village, which is a temporary workforce housing facility for thousands of foreign laborers needed for the military buildup.
'Terrible' decision
Aguon called the land commission's decision "terrible." She noted how for one small plot of land, Lot 5315, the planned road cuts through it.
Many were left with questions they said need answering.
"Under what circumstances did they sign off on that thing? How did it get that far?" Michael Aguon, 46, asked at yesterday's meeting.
Department of Land Management officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.
David Tydingco, senior vice-president for Younex, said they, too, are experiencing similar problems that the landowners are facing.
"When we got the property, it also identified that we had limitations on how we can build our facility because pre-existing easements were there," Tydingco said. "So we are under the same dilemma that the other landowners have. We are very limited to how we can develop our property based on the easements that were pre-existing when we acquired the property."
He added that Younex has no choice but "to follow the authorities on this."
Housing facility
Last month, a South Korean construction company signed a $200 million contract with Guam-based Younex Enterprises Corp. to build an 18,000-bed facility in Dededo to house the thousands of temporary workers coming for the buildup.
The deal was signed by STX Group Chairman Duck-soo Kang and Younex Enterprises Chairman Kil Koo Yoon on Dec. 22, 2009. The housing facility will be located in the Harmon Annex adjacent to the Navy's South Finegayan family housing facility.
Younex already started the site surveying and preliminary groundwork that would lead to the opening of the first phase of the project in October 2010. It is expected to be completed around 2013 and require about 400 workers, according to Pacific Daily News files.
By Laura Matthews • Pacific Daily News • January 4, 2010
Some Harmon Annex landowners are opposed to the Guam Land Use Commission's decision to grant Younex International sections of Dededo land to build a 100-foot wide roadway that they said will take away from their properties.
Ike Pangelinan, a 57-year-old landowner, said the commission did not adequately inform all the landowners in the area before making its decision at a Dec. 10, 2009 public hearing.
Meeting
The landowners called a meeting yesterday, and only one of them, Terry Aguon, said she received a letter from the Department of Land Management outlining how the parcels of land is to be used.
Now they are asking that the department call a meeting with the landowners and all the major stakeholders so they can share their concerns.
"They skipped me," Pangelinan said. "And right now it is already passed."
According to the letter sent to Terry Aguon dated Nov. 23, 2009, Parcel J and Parcel K, which includes several lots owned by various landowners, would be reviewed by the GLUC as public access or utilities right-of-way.
Right-of-way
"Should these easements be known as Public Access or Utilities Right-of-Way, it will allow for its improvement and placement of other critical infrastructure that will benefit you as well," the letter stated.
Some of the parcels and lots, which are located off of Route 3 in Dededo and known as the Harmon Annex, were transferred from the federal government to the Government of Guam and are under the administration of the Department of Public Works.
The planned easement would allow for Younex to develop a road that will be needed for the new Ukudu Workforce Village, which is a temporary workforce housing facility for thousands of foreign laborers needed for the military buildup.
'Terrible' decision
Aguon called the land commission's decision "terrible." She noted how for one small plot of land, Lot 5315, the planned road cuts through it.
Many were left with questions they said need answering.
"Under what circumstances did they sign off on that thing? How did it get that far?" Michael Aguon, 46, asked at yesterday's meeting.
Department of Land Management officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.
David Tydingco, senior vice-president for Younex, said they, too, are experiencing similar problems that the landowners are facing.
"When we got the property, it also identified that we had limitations on how we can build our facility because pre-existing easements were there," Tydingco said. "So we are under the same dilemma that the other landowners have. We are very limited to how we can develop our property based on the easements that were pre-existing when we acquired the property."
He added that Younex has no choice but "to follow the authorities on this."
Housing facility
Last month, a South Korean construction company signed a $200 million contract with Guam-based Younex Enterprises Corp. to build an 18,000-bed facility in Dededo to house the thousands of temporary workers coming for the buildup.
The deal was signed by STX Group Chairman Duck-soo Kang and Younex Enterprises Chairman Kil Koo Yoon on Dec. 22, 2009. The housing facility will be located in the Harmon Annex adjacent to the Navy's South Finegayan family housing facility.
Younex already started the site surveying and preliminary groundwork that would lead to the opening of the first phase of the project in October 2010. It is expected to be completed around 2013 and require about 400 workers, according to Pacific Daily News files.
Land encroachment
Land encroachment
Monday, 04 January 2010 01:48
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
Younex development plan includes private land acquisitions
LANDOWNERS in Harmon Annex met yesterday to discuss an approved plan for Younex Corporation’s development plan for a workers village that includes taking 100 feet of private properties on various sides of the development lot for easements.
Several families would be affected by the land grab including the Manglona and Namauleg clans as well as the Ignacio Ojeda Aguon family, the Joaquin L.G. Aguon clan, Terry Aguon and Ignacio Pangelinan.
The proposed Puntan Dos Amantes zoning plan has already been approved by the Guam Land Use Commission and was transferred to Gov. Felix Camacho. It now awaits review by the legislature.
Last month Younex signed a $200 million contract with STX Group, a South Korean company, to build an 18,000-bed workers village for H2 workers.
“This is a lot of land, 100 feet on all sides of the affected properties. We're not just going to let them take our property,” Pangelinan said.
Pangelinan said that when the Land Use Commission met on Dec. 10, they did not inform him or the other administrators about the meeting and there was no public notice announcement about the meeting.
David Tydingco, president of Younex Corporation, could not be reached as of press time last night.
Open violation
“In other words, they are in violation of the open government law which requires that any government agency has to publicly announce that they're going to hold a meeting five days prior to inform the public,” Pangelinan said.
Pangelinan said Younex is using the military buildup as the impetus to quickly push forward the approval of the zoning.
“Younex is rushing this to their advantage and they're using the military buildup as an excuse in order to have the land use commission approve the two parcels,” Pangelinan said.
“Younex wants easy access to NCTAMS. They have their own agenda. But there's a problem for them with the landowners. We never sat down and talked with Younex or land management or the land use commission. And they didn't properly notify the landowners or the administrators of the Dec. 10, GLUC meeting,” Pangelinan added.
Pangelinan brought up a 1956 land map that recognized a bull cart trail within the area. The Commission recognizes bull cart trails as a road, said Pangelinan. However, another survey was taken by Perry & Associates for the Navy for military acquisition and this map did not recognize the bull cart trail.
“They're trying to follow the old military map that Perry & Associates did for the military. This is the Navy map which did not follow the 1956 map,” said Pangelinan.
Ready to march
While property owners are ready to march down to Sen. Ben Pangelinan's office to protest, the lawmaker said yesterday that before any properties are zoned, his intention is to hold public hearings on these lands.
“The GLUC approved the zoning plan, sent it to the governor who then sent it down to the legislature. We received the plan from the governor and the land use commission, proposing the different zones which included easements,” the senator said.
Senator Pangelinan said the proposal will require approval by the legislature or else it will go into default approval by law.
“If the legislature doesn't object to the proposal, then it becomes approved, but we have the option of holding hearings on it to seek additional comments and that's what I intend to do,” said Pangelinan.
Exaperated
J.R. Mateo, one of the many affected property owners in the area, spoke with Variety last night and expressed his exasperation with the situation.
“The amount of land they want to take from us is a lot,” he said. “Are they going to compensate the families or just take it and give to that Korean company?” Mateo asked in disbelief.
Another matter of concern that he questioned regarded the pace at which the permitting process had moved.
“I thought there was supposed to be some kind of environmental impact study and they first had to check the area for archeological things of significance. I don’t know when they did that if they just got the permit a few months ago,” he asserted. “We are not going to just let them take our land for nothing,” he maintained. (With reports from Romeo Carlos)
Monday, 04 January 2010 01:48
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
Younex development plan includes private land acquisitions
LANDOWNERS in Harmon Annex met yesterday to discuss an approved plan for Younex Corporation’s development plan for a workers village that includes taking 100 feet of private properties on various sides of the development lot for easements.
Several families would be affected by the land grab including the Manglona and Namauleg clans as well as the Ignacio Ojeda Aguon family, the Joaquin L.G. Aguon clan, Terry Aguon and Ignacio Pangelinan.
The proposed Puntan Dos Amantes zoning plan has already been approved by the Guam Land Use Commission and was transferred to Gov. Felix Camacho. It now awaits review by the legislature.
Last month Younex signed a $200 million contract with STX Group, a South Korean company, to build an 18,000-bed workers village for H2 workers.
“This is a lot of land, 100 feet on all sides of the affected properties. We're not just going to let them take our property,” Pangelinan said.
Pangelinan said that when the Land Use Commission met on Dec. 10, they did not inform him or the other administrators about the meeting and there was no public notice announcement about the meeting.
David Tydingco, president of Younex Corporation, could not be reached as of press time last night.
Open violation
“In other words, they are in violation of the open government law which requires that any government agency has to publicly announce that they're going to hold a meeting five days prior to inform the public,” Pangelinan said.
Pangelinan said Younex is using the military buildup as the impetus to quickly push forward the approval of the zoning.
“Younex is rushing this to their advantage and they're using the military buildup as an excuse in order to have the land use commission approve the two parcels,” Pangelinan said.
“Younex wants easy access to NCTAMS. They have their own agenda. But there's a problem for them with the landowners. We never sat down and talked with Younex or land management or the land use commission. And they didn't properly notify the landowners or the administrators of the Dec. 10, GLUC meeting,” Pangelinan added.
Pangelinan brought up a 1956 land map that recognized a bull cart trail within the area. The Commission recognizes bull cart trails as a road, said Pangelinan. However, another survey was taken by Perry & Associates for the Navy for military acquisition and this map did not recognize the bull cart trail.
“They're trying to follow the old military map that Perry & Associates did for the military. This is the Navy map which did not follow the 1956 map,” said Pangelinan.
Ready to march
While property owners are ready to march down to Sen. Ben Pangelinan's office to protest, the lawmaker said yesterday that before any properties are zoned, his intention is to hold public hearings on these lands.
“The GLUC approved the zoning plan, sent it to the governor who then sent it down to the legislature. We received the plan from the governor and the land use commission, proposing the different zones which included easements,” the senator said.
Senator Pangelinan said the proposal will require approval by the legislature or else it will go into default approval by law.
“If the legislature doesn't object to the proposal, then it becomes approved, but we have the option of holding hearings on it to seek additional comments and that's what I intend to do,” said Pangelinan.
Exaperated
J.R. Mateo, one of the many affected property owners in the area, spoke with Variety last night and expressed his exasperation with the situation.
“The amount of land they want to take from us is a lot,” he said. “Are they going to compensate the families or just take it and give to that Korean company?” Mateo asked in disbelief.
Another matter of concern that he questioned regarded the pace at which the permitting process had moved.
“I thought there was supposed to be some kind of environmental impact study and they first had to check the area for archeological things of significance. I don’t know when they did that if they just got the permit a few months ago,” he asserted. “We are not going to just let them take our land for nothing,” he maintained. (With reports from Romeo Carlos)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tiyan parkway discussions to pick back up
Tiyan parkway discussions to pick back up
Posted: Dec 29, 2009 5:47 PM PST
by Mindy Aguon
Guam - Tiyan landowners should have a better idea of where the Government of Guam intends to build the Tiyan Parkway in the next few weeks. Public Works Director Larry Perez says after a brief break for the holidays, discussions will resume next week Friday, specifically with the airport.
DPW is hoping to work out a deal with the Guam International Airport Authority to utilize airport property for the roadway. Tiyan landowners have pushed for the parkway to be built solely on airport property to prevent any of their land from being taken away as one proposed option was to place the road in the middle of the homes there.
Perez says they are looking for a win-win solution and negotiations with the airport should be completed sometime in January.
Posted: Dec 29, 2009 5:47 PM PST
by Mindy Aguon
Guam - Tiyan landowners should have a better idea of where the Government of Guam intends to build the Tiyan Parkway in the next few weeks. Public Works Director Larry Perez says after a brief break for the holidays, discussions will resume next week Friday, specifically with the airport.
DPW is hoping to work out a deal with the Guam International Airport Authority to utilize airport property for the roadway. Tiyan landowners have pushed for the parkway to be built solely on airport property to prevent any of their land from being taken away as one proposed option was to place the road in the middle of the homes there.
Perez says they are looking for a win-win solution and negotiations with the airport should be completed sometime in January.
Legislature, landowners to tackle land resolution
Legislature, landowners to tackle land resolution
Monday, 28 December 2009 04:31
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
RESOLUTION 258 will be heard at 9 a.m. tomorrow in the legislature's public hearing room and its author, Sen. Judi Guthertz, hopes for a big attendance in support of the measure.
Bill 258 expresses the strong opposition of the 30th Guam Legislature and the people of Guam to any use of condemnation for the purpose of obtaining lands for the military buildup or other federal government purposes.
Guthertz also hopes that military representatives will listen carefully and understand how sensitive the issue of the military taking of lands through the method of condemnation is.
“If in fact they have any plans on using land condemnation as a last resort, they must abandon that thought and that plan,” said Guthertz, who chairs the Committee on the Guam military buildup and Homeland Security.
Waste of time
Former Sen. Ted Nelson, whose family owns the property in the Marbo area in Yigo, said yesterday the military must understand that there is a difference between government-owned land and land owned by private owners.
“The federal government should deal directly with the private property owners, but they have ignored us. If they decide to condemn lands, then our input in the draft environmental impact study during those village meetings they held were a waste of time,” said Nelson.
Guthertz believes land-taking will further widen the gap between the military and the citizens of Guam. “If it is a pursued approach, they will alienate many people in this community and I think it would have a very negative impact on the reception of the people of Guam to this buildup,” said the senator.
Proper and fair
“I just want it to be done properly and fairly. And if the military really want to be a partner they have to respect the unfortunate experiences the people of Guam went through in reference to land taking and they have to resist any initiative to replicate that in the future,” she said.
Nelson said that if the federal government is determined to condemn lands, then landowners who desire to sell their property must be paid the fair market value of the lands taken by condemnation. “With our tiny landmass, we're talking about millions of dollars worth of properties. Will they give landowners fair market value?” he asked.
But even then, said Nelson, the federal government has the ultimate say.
“In the end, who can prohibit the use of the power of eminent domain to take private property to be used for the buildup? Only the federal government has this authority,” said Nelson.
The government of Guam also has the power to condemn lands for public use.
Lost assets
Speaker Judi Won Pat noted that many Chamorro families have seen the loss of many of its assets through condemnation.
While supporters of such condemnation argue they should be upheld so long as the landowner receives "just compensation," landowners know from experience that forced taking of their lands almost never results in a fair economic result for the landowner, the speaker said.
Further, it does not compensate landowners for the emotional loss of inherited lands that have been theirs for generations. “Condemnation of lands goes beyond whether a family received fair market value. It is the loss of a legacy that was intended for the benefit of the future generations of those family members who left it to be cared for and passed on,” said Won Pat.
Monday, 28 December 2009 04:31
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
RESOLUTION 258 will be heard at 9 a.m. tomorrow in the legislature's public hearing room and its author, Sen. Judi Guthertz, hopes for a big attendance in support of the measure.
Bill 258 expresses the strong opposition of the 30th Guam Legislature and the people of Guam to any use of condemnation for the purpose of obtaining lands for the military buildup or other federal government purposes.
Guthertz also hopes that military representatives will listen carefully and understand how sensitive the issue of the military taking of lands through the method of condemnation is.
“If in fact they have any plans on using land condemnation as a last resort, they must abandon that thought and that plan,” said Guthertz, who chairs the Committee on the Guam military buildup and Homeland Security.
Waste of time
Former Sen. Ted Nelson, whose family owns the property in the Marbo area in Yigo, said yesterday the military must understand that there is a difference between government-owned land and land owned by private owners.
“The federal government should deal directly with the private property owners, but they have ignored us. If they decide to condemn lands, then our input in the draft environmental impact study during those village meetings they held were a waste of time,” said Nelson.
Guthertz believes land-taking will further widen the gap between the military and the citizens of Guam. “If it is a pursued approach, they will alienate many people in this community and I think it would have a very negative impact on the reception of the people of Guam to this buildup,” said the senator.
Proper and fair
“I just want it to be done properly and fairly. And if the military really want to be a partner they have to respect the unfortunate experiences the people of Guam went through in reference to land taking and they have to resist any initiative to replicate that in the future,” she said.
Nelson said that if the federal government is determined to condemn lands, then landowners who desire to sell their property must be paid the fair market value of the lands taken by condemnation. “With our tiny landmass, we're talking about millions of dollars worth of properties. Will they give landowners fair market value?” he asked.
But even then, said Nelson, the federal government has the ultimate say.
“In the end, who can prohibit the use of the power of eminent domain to take private property to be used for the buildup? Only the federal government has this authority,” said Nelson.
The government of Guam also has the power to condemn lands for public use.
Lost assets
Speaker Judi Won Pat noted that many Chamorro families have seen the loss of many of its assets through condemnation.
While supporters of such condemnation argue they should be upheld so long as the landowner receives "just compensation," landowners know from experience that forced taking of their lands almost never results in a fair economic result for the landowner, the speaker said.
Further, it does not compensate landowners for the emotional loss of inherited lands that have been theirs for generations. “Condemnation of lands goes beyond whether a family received fair market value. It is the loss of a legacy that was intended for the benefit of the future generations of those family members who left it to be cared for and passed on,” said Won Pat.
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