Groups Intend to Sue Navy, Feds

Published by Saipantribune.com on Feb. 10, 2016

By Dennis B. Chan

Environmental groups from the Northern Marianas Islands and nation-wide intend to challenge the Department of Navy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over an alleged failure to comply with Endangered Species Act and for ongoing live-fire and sea training in the Marianas Islands range, according to a notice of intent to sue these agencies dated Feb. 5.

“The Navy and the Service have violated and remain in ongoing violation of the ESA,” said David Henkin, an Earthjustice attorney, in the letter.

“If these violations of law are not cured within 60 days, [the groups] intend to file suit for declaratory and injunctive relief.”

Henkin’s letter appears to pin the grounds of a lawsuit on the Navy’s and Service’s alleged failure to reconsider the expansive military project in light of newly declared and threatened species in the Marianas.

The Navy fails “to insure that their military project will not likely jeopardize the continued existence of newly listed threatened or endangered species,” Henkin said.

The argument appears to center on the Navy’s continued and authorized training within the Marianas despite a lack of consultation with the wildlife service, after the Service’s declared 23 plant and animal species as endangered or threatened last October.

This consultation with the Service is required pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.

Henkin quotes the Service’s own words in their final rule on the matter: “The [Marianas Islands Training and Testing area] opens up every island within the Mariana Archipelago as a potential training site…which subsequently may result in negative impacts to any number of the 23 species addressed.”

The Service said the proposed actions include increasing in “training activities in Guam, Rota, Saipan, Tinian, Farallon de Medinilla (increase in bombing), and Pagan. Likely negative impacts include, but are not limited to, direct damage to individuals from live-fire training and ordnance, wildlife resulting from life-fire and ordnance, direct physical damage (e.g. trampling by humans, helicopter landing, etc.) to individuals, and spread of nonnative species.”

“Additionally, water purification training is proposed for all these islands, exept for Farallon de Medinilla, which may be particularly damaging to the Rota blue damselfly,” the Service said.

The Service’s final decision, Henkin said, “makes clear” that the Navy training may affect the newly listed species, “triggering the obligation to reinitiate consultation.”

“This notice letter was prepared in good faith, after reasonably diligent investigation,” Henkin said. “If you believe that any of the foregoing is factually inaccurate or erroneous, please notify us promptly.”

Comments from the Department of Navy were not available as of press time, but a Navy spokesperson said a statement would be forthcoming today.

Large picture frustrations

The potential lawsuit taps into larger frustrations over military projects—like firing ranges, a divert airfield, the proposed leasing of the entire island of Pagan, and the relocation of thousands of Marines to Guam from Japan—that military planners have issued and approved within the Marianas Islands range in recent years.

“Look at what is happening here,” Peter J. Perez, co-founder of the advocate group Pagan Watch, said yesterday. “A department of the federal government, not the leadership of the United States, not the President and the Congress, but a department, somehow has the right to unilaterally decide to turn a state’s territory into the world’s largest live-fire training range.”

“This is a severe encroachment on the territory of Guam and the CNMI,” Perez said. Pagan Watch is one of the handful groups attached to the notice to sue the Navy.

For the Marianas Islands Training and Testing area, or MITT, the Navy expanded a training area encompassing some 500,000 square nautical miles of ocean into an expansive 980,000-some square miles—an area that advocates have lamented is larger than the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Montana, and New Mexico combined.

In 2013, the late CNMI governor Eloy Songao Inos called on the Navy to conduct better baseline studies, grant more marine protection areas, and asked that undersea training not be done around certain island seamounts believed to be plentiful with marine life.

But in their formal response to Inos last May, the Navy said they could not impose these “geographic limitations on training and testing activities,” calling it an “impractical burden” to implement and an “unacceptable impact to the effectiveness” of their training.

The Navy approved the undersea ordnance training—inclusive of a reported roughly 300-percent increase of ordnance bombing on Farallon De Medinilla—last August.

Perez said the voices of the CNMI governor, the Senate and the House of Representatives, the mayors, the municipal council, or in other words, the entire local state-level government are all being “ignored.”

“The American citizens who live here—who have said “NO” in a strong and clear voice—are also being disregarded.”

“In fact, the only obstacle to the Department of Defense’s intention to take and bomb our islands and waters is the requirement under federal law that they follow the EIS process that was designed to ensure compliance with federal laws for the protection of the environment and historic assets.”

“Pagan Watch and the other signatories to the letter are determined to not allow the DoD to ignore the EIS process as well. It is all that is standing between us and what the late governor Inos characterized as the “existential threat” of the DoD turning our lands and waters into a giant live-fire range with all the destruction, contamination, and restrictions on the people’s freedoms that come with it,” Perez told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

The February notice of intent to sue lists a total of eight groups from the CNMI, Guam, and Hawaii in the notice to sue.

The attached groups include the Alternative Zero Coalition, Center for Biological Diversity, Fanacho Marianas, Guardians of Gani, Oceania Resistance, Pagan Watch, Tinian Premier Football Club, and Tinian Women’s Association.

The letter was sent to the Department of Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, USFW Service Director Daniel M. Ashe, and Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewel.

‘Navy Interests Should Be Included in Future Leasing Discussions’

Published by Saipantribune.com on January 26, 2016

By Dennis B. Chan

A U.S. Department of the Navy spokesman re-echoed Friday their claim to military use rights at the Tinian port, but said they do need not see any current conflict between their these rights and leases granted by the Commonwealth Ports Authority to commercial development.

The Navy’s desire is that military interests are part of the future and existing planning for leases, according to Joint Region Marianas public affairs officer Tim Gorman in an email.

Gorman was responding to questions from Saipan Tribune on the extent of their rights at the Tinian port, after a letter from Department of the Navy lawyer John Aguon to CPA lawyer Robert Torres surfaced, in which the former notes the Navy’s concern that current and future development at the Tinian port—including Bridge Investment Group’s $120-million casino resort—“may compromise DoD’s various rights.”

Gorman said that while JRM has become aware that the CPA has recently leased certain real property at the Tinian port to a private enterprise, “JRM does not see any current conflict with any CPA lease.“

“JRM personnel communicate and work with their CNMI counterparts on a wide variety of issues on a regular basis,” Gorman said. “In this instance, as the United States has certain rights contained in long-standing agreements with CNMI, such as the 1983 lease (as amended), JRM merely communicated its desire to continue to collaboratively work with the appropriate CNMI offices to help ensure that applicable DoD interests are part of the planning process in existing and future leasing actions. JRM will continue to work with our CPA colleagues to have fruitful discussions, just as we have regular discussions with our CNMI counterparts on other topics,” added Gorman.

In his January letter to CPA, Aguon reminds of these “longstanding agreements between the CNMI and Defense” that “authorize and guarantee DoD various military uses at the Tinian port and airport.”

“We desire to ensure these DoD rights are protected,” Aguon said. His letter notes that that certain portions of the port are currently leased to Bridge Investment Group—an investor building a reported casino resort on the Tinian wharf—and that in the future, “other portions of the Tinian port may be physically or legally encumbered by either Bridge or other private entities.”

Tinian Resident Emphatically Oppose Military Buildup

Tinian Residents Emphatically Oppose Military Exercises
Public hearings so support for ‘No Action Alternative’

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor

TINIAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, May 4, 2015) – Citing broken promises relating to the Covenant negotiations, and significant impact on the environment and the local economy, the people of Tinian came out in droves and expressed their emphatic "No" to the military’s proposal to build live-fire ranges and training areas on Tinian.

At Thursday night’s public hearing on the draft CNMI Joint Military Training environmental impact statement at the Tinian Junior Senior High School, the island’s leaders and residents unanimously conveyed their opposition to the military plan and indicated they favored the "No Action Alternative."

Explaining that they are not anti-military, but are against the proposal, the residents led by Tinian Mayor Joey P. San Nicolas underscored the military action’s significant impact on their island’s environment and economy.

Prefacing his statement that he is not averse to the military, that he has a son who serves in the U.S. Air Force, that the island has many veteran residents, he said the meeting was not about their support for the military but rather about the proposed military action.

"For the record, I and the members of the Tinian leadership are against the manner in which the military proposes to use Tinian as described in the draft EIS," said San Nicolas which was applauded by the residents.

San Nicolas said Tinian is a pristine island — virtually untouched — and home to unique bird species, coral reefs and plants used by their "suruhånu" — healers.

"The construction of live-fire ranges and a training complex that uses artillery, mortar and rocket launchers, will have significant, devastating and permanent impacts on our reefs, our jungle and our soil," he said.

The planned construction of a landing area for amphibious assault vehicles will require the dredging of 800,000 cubic feet of marine habitat.

Citing the DEIS, San Nicolas said this will "permanently change the habitat of the near shore areas of the beach of Unai Chulu."

The plan will also destroy approximately 2,000 acres of jungle which serves as a habitat for many native birds.

Under the military’s preferred alternative, San Nicolas said 7,200 of Tinian Monarchs, or approximately 8 percent of the total population will suffer loss of nesting and foraging areas.

It will also have a significant impact on other bird species, he said, such as Bridled White Eye, Micronesian Starling and Rufous fantail.

He also said construction of live-fire ranges will permanently destroy 230 acres of prime farm land soil.

"That means 16 percent of the total prime farm soil available on Tinian will be lost forever," he said adding that the DEIS has no mitigation for this loss.

He said they will never get these back.

He said the millions of bullets, grenades, and rockets used every year will make their lands "essentially unusable."

He also said that cleaning up waste has never been a priority for the military, citing waste left on Tinian decades ago.

"We have a duty to protect our environment for future generations," he said.

He said that based on these significant impacts, the military should select the no action alternative.

Sen. Francisco M. Borja also cited these impacts, particularly on the cattle ranchers.

The plans will have a devastating impact on the cattle industry and Tinian’s economic growth, he said.

The DEIS, he said, is not clear about how much access to military leased lands will be available throughout the year.

He said the proposed action will impact tourism as it will limit access to to 10 out of 12 historical sites.

"Two of these sites, the Shinto Shrine and Hinode will be destroyed," he said.

He also cited the loss of access to major dive sites.

Municipal Council Chairman Reynaldo Cing said, "The plan as proposed will change every aspect of our life as we know it."

He also decried the loss of access to historical and cultural sites.

He said there will be 22 weeks of pre- and post-training preparation on top of the 20 weeks a year in training.

"The military must be honest and transparent with us," he said.

He said he supports the military, but he doesn’t support the plan.

Serafina Rosario King Nabors, said she did not vote for a live-fire range when they approved the Covenant decades ago.

"Forty years ago we were marching for the Covenant," she said, adding that it was promised that a base would be built on Tinian that would provide jobs for Tinian residents.

She said they did not vote for a training range.

"You were already given Farallon de Medinilla," she said addressing the military.

As she spoke in Chamorro and English, she mentioned the incidence of cancer on island.

She said she is herself a cancer survivor.

She asked for the training ranges to be constructed in California.

"Biba Marianas! Biba Chamorro," said Nabors to the crowd’s deafening applause.

For his part, Lino Lizama opposes the bombing of Tinian and Pagan.

Joseph Connelly, who has been living on Tinian since 1984, said, "This public access needs to be further explained to the Taotao Tinian."

He also asked questions relating to construction of the ranges for 8-10 years.

He raised concerns related to the proximity of munitions areas to the airport.

Vietnam War veteran Gil Borja opposes the action, saying he opposes any training exercise on Tinian and Pagan.

He said Hawaii is different: the firing range is far from the town.

14-year-old Chelsea Rosario said it will impact the peace and tranquility on island.

She said the proposed action will reduce the culture and heritage to a "memory."

Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission Chairman Matthew C. Masga said he is unequivocally opposed as it will have a significant impact on the casino industry and will heap burdens on a lot of people.

Masga said one week of training alone is too much of a burden.

He cited the noise that will make Tinian unattractive to tourists.

He said tourism will see a downward spiral due to limited activities on island.

"Our people and tourists will no longer be free to visit historical sites," he said.

For Eric San Nicolas, the U.S. military does not own two-thirds of Tinian, "they lease it."

He said, "We are the patrons of the land. Land is connected to us. Our land is connected to our soul."

John Barcinas said it is their right to say, "No."

For Kimberly Hinds, the DEIS is nothing more than a plan to destroy Tinian "and to kill our culture."

She said what the military calls restricted access to beaches, to coastal zones, alterations of the seafloor, and taking away corals, "is what we call our customary right and way of feeding our families. What you call your cattle grazing mitigation plan is a threat to our food supply and our ability to be self-sustaining. What you call restricted access to our cultural sites is really a denial of our ability to practice our traditional and customary rights…picking ‘donni,’ paying respect to our dead, going hunting." For Hinds, the 20-week training will be an economic shackle on Tinian that is struggling to be self-sustaining.

"No respect to the land and to the people of this community," she said.

Jose P. Kiyoshi, a former Marine, said the promise back then was for a military base; not a firing range.

"No to the firing range; yes to the base," he said.

He said this will change the lives of the people in the community.

Debra Fleming also said there were so many broken promises: the promise of a U.S. military base, a commissary, a theatre, and a school.

She said the dock was never fixed.

"Now they want to dredge Unai Chulu," she said pointing out that it is an ancient burial ground, where there are latte stones.

"All this EIS—is a waste of our time. What’s the point in all of this," she said.

She asked if the CNMI could renegotiate to take the land back "at the price they purchased it?"

The use of bombs was never in the picture when they negotiated the Covenant.

Juanita Mendiola told the military to build their own island.

She said the destruction of Tinian and Pagan is not exclusively local — it is global.

"This island is sacred to all of us. This entire island is sacred. Please do not desecrate it," she said.

Archaeologist Craig Weaver said the DEIS did not mention anything on preservation.

Lou Dela Cruz said Tinian is too beautiful to be destroyed.

Keith Nabors asked the people to say "no" to the proposed military action.

He said in past military exercises, with boots on the ground, "they landed on the wrong beach."

Even with modern technology, they landed on the wrong beach, he said.

He expressed his concern that with the firing-ranges, mistakes like this may happen.

Joseph Mendiola said they support the military yet the training on Tinian will impact their livelihood.

He cited the noise impact as evidenced from the Fury exercises.

Whelden clarifies: No live explosives on Tinian

Marine Forces Pacific Executive Director Craig B. Whelden dispelled the notion that they will be bombing Tinian.

"We are not planning to drop live explosive bombs on Tinian. We are not," he said.

He said the requirement is for them to train on how to provide air support and drop what they call ordnance — which is a generic term for bombs onto a target.

Having this skill can save thousands of lives.

"What we have planned is dropping inert bombs — essentially they have a puff of smoke when they hit the ground so we can see where they landed so we can practice that critical skill."

Inert bombs, according to online sources, "are aerial munitions filled with wet sand or cement."

According to http://www.thomaswictor.com/inert-bombs/, inert bombs are also called "dumb bombs."

The same website said that an inert bomb won’t explode, which means it can’t produce blast effects, and it can’t spray the area with lethal metal fragments.

The dropping of the inert bombs will only be done 10 percent of the time or for about two weeks.

Whelden also clarified that they are not sneaking behind the people’s backs as claimed by one person who spoke.

"Nothing could be further from the truth. I signed at least a dozen letters to the governors, to the mayors, to the directors of CPA, DPL, to other groups, governmental groups, identifying what we have in mind, why we have it in mind, when we would do it, who was coming, who we will coordinate with when we got here," he said.

He said in some cases they ask permission on property they don’t have control over outside the military lease area.

"We did it openly, with full notification of the government," he said.

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Okinawa wants all 12K Marines out

THURSDAY, 09 DECEMBER 2010 01:47 BY THERESE HART | VARIETY NEWS STAFF

A VISITING delegation from the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly says their government wants all of the 12,000 U.S. Marines out

File Photo

of the Japanese island, not just the estimated 8,600, who are scheduled to be moved to Guam starting 2012.

The delegation, led by Tetsuji Shinagaki of the Liberal Democratic Party, also told incumbent Speaker Judi Won Pat and other Guam lawmakers, Okinawa wants the Futenma Air Base removed from their island as opposed to relocating it to Camp Nago.

They also clarified that there is no truth to the story that came out in a Saipan newspaper that Okinawa would pay the U.S. to relocate some 4,000 more U.S. Marines to Tinian.

The delegation said that kind of decision is between the U.S. and Japanese governments and they are not aware of any decision being made, but Saipan leaders brought up the discussion.

The delegation said the Okinawa assembly passed a resolution urging Japan and the United States to modify their realignment of forces agreement so that the other Marines would also be relocated to Guam.

The delegation, which is scheduled to leave today, said newly-elected Okinawa Gov. Hirozaku Nakaima, stands and agrees on the same issues as the assembly.

The delegation reiterated that Okinawa makes up 0.6% of Japan’s territory but hosts 75 percent of U.S. military bases.

Okinawans have complained for decades about the unfair and unequal footprint left by the U.S.

The US military forces control 40 percent of Okinawan airspace and 29 ports.

The Okinawan delegation, all members of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, include the following: Tetsuji Shinagaki (Liberal Democratic Party); Kosuke Gushi (LDP); Masatoshi Onaga (LDP); Isho Urasaki (LDP); Hikaru Minei (LDP); Hiroko Tsujino (LDP); Zakimi Kazuyuki (LDP); Yoshihiko Yoshimoto (LDP); Sachio Kuwae (LDP); Kyoki Nakagawa (LDP); Dai Shimabukuro (LDP); Tomonori Itosu (New Komeito).

Relocation of US troops to NMI not done deal

Relocation of US troops to NMI not done deal

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter

Kitazawa Japan's Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa on Friday downplayed the idea of relocating up to 4,000 U.S. troops from the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa to Tinian, even as Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and the CNMI Military Integration Management Committee said yesterday that the Commonwealth welcomes such relocation consideration “only if such plan is supported and approved by the U.S. federal government and the Department of Defense.”

Tinian is one of the major islands in the U.S. territory of the CNMI.

“We are by no means trying to entice the Japanese government to push for the relocation of a base in the CNMI as this is solely a decision that will be made by the U.S. government. The administration and the MIMC will respect and support any such decisions that are made,” the Fitial administration said in a statement when asked for comment on the Futenma relocation issue.

Press Secretary Angel Demapan said Fitial and the MIMC will be open to any dialogue that the U.S. Department of Defense may want to engage in.

“However, any such dialogue would have to be at the request of the federal government,” he said.

International media quoted Japan's Kitazawa as saying that Futenma's relocation to the CNMI could be considered as a “long-term issue.”

He said, however, the views of the U.S. military on the relocation issue are important and that discussions are expected to take place on whether the necessary deterrence can be maintained in the Asia-Pacific region if all the Marine functions in Okinawa are transferred to Tinian.

Two-thirds of Tinian's land is leased to the U.S. military.

Three Japanese lawmakers who visited Saipan briefly on Feb. 10 told CNMI officials that they are considering the CNMI as one of relocation sites for 2,000 to 4,000 U.S. troops at Futenma.

In interviews with international media, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, who leads a government task force on the matter, also expressed little enthusiasm for the idea of relocating Futenma to Tinian. He said the task force has never discussed it before.

Japan had said it will reach a final conclusion by the end of May on where it wants to see the Futenma facility relocated, and a government committee has been exploring possible candidate sites, while Washington, D.C. maintains that a plan agreed upon by Japan and the United States in 2006 to move the Futenma base to a less densely populated part of Okinawa is the best option.

The three Japanese lawmakers who visited Saipan last week-Mikio Shimoji, Tomoko Abe, and Ryoichi Hattori-met with Fitial, Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos, House Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio (Cov-Saipan), and Senate President Paul A. Manglona (R-Saipan).

The three lawmakers were part of a 23-member Japanese government delegation who arrived in Guam for a “fact-finding” visit, particularly to see if there's suitable place on Guam for more U.S. troops to be relocated off Okinawa.

The up to 4,000 considered to be relocated to Tinian is in addition to the estimated 8,000 Marines and their 9,000 dependents who are expected to be relocated by 2014, although Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho asked for the military buildup to be delayed until after 2014.

Fitial and other CNMI officials last week said they welcome the relocation of U.S. troops to the Commonwealth provided the U.S. government consents to such move. This statement was repeated yesterday by the administration and the MIMC.

Tinian option appeals to Japanese panel

Tinian option appeals to Japanese panel

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 03:30
by Mar-Vic Cagurangan | Variety News Staff

AFTER getting a clear sense that Guam already has too much on its plate, the Japanese delegation led by Diet member Mikio Shimijo has determined that Tinian would be a possible site for the relocation of some troops from Okinawa, according to a report by Starts and Stripes.

“It was very encouraging,” Shimoji said in a telephone interview with Stars and Stripes upon his return to Tokyo on Thursday last. “While Okinawa will continue to host military bases, risk-sharing is important.”

Members of the Diet, who toured military bases on island and met with Guam and CNMI officials, were presented a resolution passed by the Guam legislature seeking a reevaluation of the current plan for the massive military buildup on Guam.

Shimoji said the panel will relay the resolution to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, along with Guam Gov. Felix Camacho’s statement that Guam could not handle any more than the 8,000 Marines already scheduled to transfer to the island, Stars and Stripes reported.

Shimoji said he pledged to be a voice for Guam in the Japanese Diet, the article stated.

“Besides the Marines and their families from Okinawa, Guam is expected to accept thousands more,” he said, indicating the island’s population will bulge with construction workers and other personnel to support the buildup. “Under those circumstances, it is not appropriate to add further troops to Guam.”

10 areas of concerns but Tinian Chamber of Commerce supports military buildup

10 areas of concerns but Tinian Chamber of Commerce supports military buildup

Monday, February 15, 2010
By Haidee V. Eugenio

The Tinian Chamber of Commerce has formally expressed its support to the military investment on Tinian in connection with the massive troop buildup in the Marianas, but it has pointed out 10 areas of concerns, including limited economic impact, only a few local jobs to be generated, and periodic limited access to beach sites, other tourism related sites, and cattle grazing land.

In a 12-page position paper and official comments on the draft environmental impact statement for the Guam and CNMI military relocation, the Chamber said its comments are meant to “constructively point out unintentional consequences caused by the military's proposed action” on the draft EIS.

Feb. 17 is the deadline for submitting comments on the draft EIS.

The Chamber, which has over 50 active members on Tinian, also offered “solutions” to meet the expectations of businesses and residents on the island.

Phillip Mendiola-Long, president of the Tinian Chamber of Commerce, said Tinian has endured over 30 years of pent up expectations for the military's use and development of the 18,000 acres of leased land on Tinian.

Some two-thirds of the lands on Tinian are leased by the U.S. military, and battalion level non-live fire training areas already exist and are used on these leased parcels.

Because Guam cannot accommodate all training for the relocating Marines from Okinawa, Japan, the U.S. military looks at Tinian to provide opportunities for training groups of 200 Marines or larger due to greater land availability.

The proposed actions on Tinian include firing ranges for rifle known distance, automated combat pistol, platoon battle course, field firing, and airspace use.

In a Feb. 12 position paper and comments on the draft EIS, the Chamber said it disagrees with the determination of “less than significant” for impacts to the roads and harbors as a result of the proposed action on Tinian.

The Chamber said there are no studies or compaction tests offered to determine if in fact the roads built in 1944 can withstand the additional and heavier loads required for equipment used in the range.

The business group added that the draft EIS failed to identify which specific Tinian roads would be accessed or used when moving personnel and equipment from the airport or the harbor.

It also said there's no real live fire tests offered to measure noise impact, even as the draft EIS said there is no noise impact associated with the proposed action on Tinian.

Recreational resources

The Chamber said the draft EIS omitted significant recreational resources that will be impacted.

They include Unai Dankulu/Long Beach which consists of over 10 beaches spread over a distance of 1.5 kilometers, and Unai Masalok which consists of three beaches spread over a distance of 0.5 kilometers.

“Access would be impeded, recreational opportunities would be reduced, conflicts would be created and physical deterioration would occur. Unai Dankulo is the longest beach on Tinian and is a major tourist and resident recreational spot,” the business group said.

Since the draft EIS identifies additional significant impact on Tinian due to the introduction of hazardous materials and waste, it would seem appropriate that the draft EIS offer as a mitigation measure the hazardous materials cleanup of the Tinian mortar range, it added.

Under the draft EIS, military training activity would be scheduled and notice provided in newspapers and via public service announcements on radio and television at least a week prior to any training event.

But the Chamber said a one-week notice window is not enough time for tourists and residents to address their scheduling of activities for use of the North Field areas.

The Chamber also said that the draft EIS failed to identify what range training area policies are envisioned for potential civilian access and use of the historical and recreational areas located in the RTA.

Limited economic impact

Liberty for training Marines is currently not guaranteed for regular training exercises under the current description of the proposed action.

Liberty may be available to the advanced teams before and after training exercises, though these advanced teams would be much smaller and thus have a lesser economic impact.

The draft EIS said to enhance economic benefits and compensate for economic costs for local businesses, the Marine Corps would consider granting trainees some liberty at the end of every training mission so that they might spend money in local establishments and interact with local residents.

The Chamber recommends that the draft EIS implement liberty time within the proposed training schedule and measure economic impact of allowing 200 to 400 military personnel to have liberty in downtown Tinian.

The business group also recommends mitigation for the loss of Tinian economic tourism activity by requiring the U.S. military to pay for the development of a small museum dedicated to Tinian history.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz jointly asked Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to help build a museum or visitor's center that will depict Tinian's role in World War II, even as a “Manhattan Project National Historical Park” system is being created.

Tinian was the staging area for the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the war.

Grazing permits, jobs

The U.S. military would end the grazing rights to build the proposed ranges on Tinian, causing significant adverse economic impact. There are 35 grazing permits to be affected by this.

The Chamber said this is unfair and unacceptable, and recommends that the military offer help in grazing relocation efforts.

The draft EIS also said there is a “possibility” that 12 to 15 Tinian residents could be employed as security guards, grounds keeping crew, and sanitation workers to support the proposed action, a “less than significant impact.”

“One must admit that the proposed military action and the possible environmental consequences is already a 'hard sell' to the people of Tinian, yet not enough thought or concern was given to the people of Tinian in this DEIS,” said the Chamber.

It added that that the draft EIS does not identify high-paying jobs such as range management positions.

The $15- to $20-billion military buildup in Guam and Tinian involves the relocation of some 8,000 Marines to Guam, and this still excludes thousands of family members and workers needed.

SDP to seek moving Futemma to Guam, PNP eyes integration with Kadena

SDP to seek moving Futemma to Guam, PNP eyes integration with Kadena

Feb 13 04:32 AM US/Eastern

TOKYO, Feb. 13 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The Social Democratic Party plans to include Guam among proposed alternative sites for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa, while the People's New Party is eyeing integrating Futemma's functions with the nearby U.S. Kadena Air Base among other options, party members said Saturday.

The two junior coalition partners in the Democratic Party of Japan-led government are set to present their relocation proposals Wednesday to a government committee exploring possible alternative sites for moving Futemma, currently located in the city of Ginowan.

The proposals, however, are unlikely to aid the Japanese government in achieving its target of finalizing an alternative site by May as both ideas have been floated in the past but were seen as difficult to realize.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has set the target, although the U.S. government has maintained that an existing plan, agreed with Japan in to move the Futemma facility to the coastal area of the Henoko district in Nago, a less populated city in Okinawa, is the best option.

Among a number of proposals that it plans to present, the SDP, which has called for Futemma to be moved out of Okinawa or abroad, will place emphasis on Guam as the destination for most of the base's functions, with party policy chief Tomoko Abe saying, "The bases in Guam are big and there are many possible locations."

Although Guam Gov. Felix Camacho has expressed a negative view about relocating the functions to the U.S. territory, the SDP believes such a move would be accepted by residents of Guam if the infrastructure there were improved to enable it, according to the party members.

In addition, the party is considering an Air Self-Defense Force base in Nagasaki Prefecture and Saga airport in neighboring Saga Prefecture among other prospective relocation sites, but many SDP lawmakers remain cautious about proposing an alternative location within Japan, the members said.

Meanwhile, the PNP plans to present a set of proposals centering on the idea of integrating Futemma's functions with the U.S. Air Force's Kadena base and moving some of the training activities there to other parts of Japan, the PNP members said.

The proposal would entail moving some F-15 fighter drills at Kadena to the U.S. Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture and some other exercises to civilian airports including Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture, they said.

"We will also work on reducing noise pollution for residents near Kadena," said Mikio Shimoji, the PNP's policy chief.

The party is also exploring the possibility of including Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands as candidate sites for some of the exercises.

Some members of the Japanese government committee studying alternative sites for the relocation of Futemma, including Abe and Shimoji, have recently made inspection trips to places such as Guam and Tinian Island.

The transfer of about 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam is planned under the 2006 Japan-U.S. agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and is linked to the completion by 2014 of a new facility in Nago to take over Futemma's heliport functions.

Defense chief negative on Futemma relocation to Tinian

Defense chief negative on Futemma relocation to Tinian


Feb 12 12:36 AM US/Eastern

TOKYO, Feb. 12 (AP) - (Kyodo) — Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa on Friday downplayed the idea of relocating a U.S. Marine airfield in Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture, to Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth.

"As Prime Minister (Yukio Hatoyama) strongly intends to solve the (relocation) issue by May, it is really difficult," Kitazawa told a press conference on the possibility of considering Tinian as a candidate site for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station.

On Wednesday, Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz told Kyodo News that Tinian can accept the Marine units.

The commonwealth governor, Benigno Fitial, also told a group of Japanese ruling coalition lawmakers who visited Saipan on Wednesday that the Northern Marianas is willing to host the full functions of the Futemma base as it will "invite the economic benefit" in terms of employment and land rent.

Kitazawa said, however, the views of the U.S. military on the relocation issue are important and that discussions are expected to take place on whether the necessary deterrence can be maintained in the Asia-Pacific region if all the Marine functions in Okinawa are transferred to Tinian.

"Such discussions will likely drag on, making it difficult for us (to reach the final decision) in May," the minister said. He added that Futemma's relocation to the Northern Mariana Islands could be considered as a "long-term issue."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, who leads a government task force on the matter, also expressed little enthusiasm for the idea of relocating Futemma to the area, saying that the task force has never discussed it before.

"I am not aware of the idea as it came up so suddenly," the top government spokesman said at a separate press conference.

Hatoyama has said that Japan will reach a final conclusion by the end of May on where it wants to see the Futemma facility relocated, and a government committee has been exploring possible candidate sites.

Washington maintains that a plan agreed upon by Japan and the United States in 2006 to move the Futemma base to a less densely populated part of Okinawa is the best option.

Northern Marianas offers to take entire Futenma US base

Northern Marianas offers to take entire Futenma US base

Updated
February 11, 2010 10:04:44

There has been an unexpected development overnight in the movement of US troops from Okinawa, Japan, with Northern Marianas expressing interest in taking the entire Futenma air base at the same time as Guam is pushing back on the suggestion.

A delegation sent by the newly-elected Japanese government is currently in Guam pushing for the entire Futenma US air base to be relocated there. This proposal would see thousands more troops added to the 8,000 already heading to Guam. It is a request that's unlikely to be accepted by Guam as the governor says the island is not prepared to deal with such a huge population increase.

This morning though, Japan's Kyodo news agency is reporting that the Northern Mariana Islands has stepped-in and offered to host the entire Futenma air base.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Gemma Casas, reporter in Saipan, Northern Marianas

CASAS: This is an opportunity for the CNMI to take a slice if you will of the potential military economy, but then the CNMI Governor agrees that this is not only his decision because as you know the CNMI is a government of the United States, anything that has to do with defence and foreign affairs, has to be decided by the nation.

COUTTS: But just stay on that point for a moment, why does the CNMI think that they can accommodate this airbase when Guam, who have had years in the lead-up to it, now say that they can't?

CASAS: Because the CNMI is a chain of 14 islands; only three are inhabited and from what I've been hearing the Futenma air base will potentially be reallocated to Tinian. In the territory, two thirds of public lands on Tinian are strictly US military. And there will not be that much people on Tinian.

COUTTS: And so they'd be able to accommodate in excess of 20,000 people along with all their hardware and artillery that will come with it?

CASAS: I believe so yeah, but they're also studying the possibility, they are only more than 3,000 people on Tinian right now, it's not exactly big of an island but they can probably accommodate 4,000 more people. The 8,000 US Marines will be reallocated to Guam, that's already a done deal, but this Futenma air base, which deals with aviation is different from the 8,000 Marines.

COUTTS: Has CNMI Governor Benigno Fitial formalised this invitation to host the entire Futenma air base to the US and to Guam and to Japan even?

CASAS: During a press conference yesterday he said there hasn't been any formal offer from the Japanese government, to use the land of the CNMI for the reallocation of the Futenma air base, but he said he's willing to bring this idea to the US government.

COUTTS: Is this likely to affect the relationship with Guam if CNMI is successful in any way?

CASAS: He said it's not really going to affect their relationship because Guam is not so keen on accommodating the Futenma air base because they're already going to host 8,000 US Marines and their 9,000 dependents. So in a way they're tossing to the CNMI a place for the Futenma air base.

COUTTS: Has there been enough time since the offer was made by the Governor to canvass opinion from the people who are going to be affected by it? Then that's one of the issues in Guam is that the environmental impact statements haven't been done properly, and that the population hasn't been considered and their opinion sought. Is this the case in CNMI?

CASAS: Yes that's right, he says his position on the Futenma air base is solely as the representative of the people but he said if the people want to speak out they have the freedom to do so.

COUTTS: And what's the next step then by Governor Fitial?

CASAS: I think he plans to formally bring this matter up to the proper authorities in the US government. But please take note that consultation on the environmental impact assessment would be completed. So I don't know how this Futenma air base would come into the picture.

Tinian mayor: ready to host US base functions

Tinian mayor: ready to host US base functions

2010/02/11 01:34(JST)

The mayor of one of the Northern Mariana Islands says it may be possible for his island to host the functions of a US Marine airbase currently located in Okinawa, southwestern Japan.

Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz of Tinian Island made the remark in a telephone interview with NHK on Wednesday.

Dela Cruz said there is enough land and facilities on the island and that Tinian would be willing to accept a base if the US military decides to relocate the functions of the US Marines' Futenma Air Station there.

The mayor said a deployment of military forces would bring large economic benefits through construction of the base and relevant installations.

He suggested the island will actively lobby the US government to station military forces on the island.

The Northern Mariana Islands are a commonwealth administered by the US.

Members of a Japanese government committee are currently visiting the islands in an effort to find an alternative site for the Futenma base.

But a Japanese defense expert says he is skeptical about relocating Futenma's functions to Tinian.

He says the recently-compiled US defense review, which outlines the nation's military strategy for the next 4 years, does not call for any realignment of US forces to the Northern Marianas Islands.

Relocation of up to 4,000 US troops to CNMI mulled

Relocation of up to 4,000 US troops to CNMI mulled

hursday, February 11, 2010
By Haidee V. Eugenio

JAPANESE LAWMAKERS STOP OVER SAIPAN

Visiting Japanese lawmakers said yesterday they may recommend the relocation of 2,000 to 4,000 U.S. troops from the aviation units at Futenma in Japan to the CNMI, on top of the 8,000 Marines to be relocated from Okinawa to Guam, said Senate Pres. Paul A. Manglona (R-Rota).

National Diet or Japan Legislature members Mikio Shimoji, Tomoko Abe, and Ryoichi Hattori met with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos, House Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio (Cov-Saipan), and Manglona at the Saipan airport yesterday afternoon, on their way to Guam.

Shimoji, Abe, and Hattori are part of the 23-member Japanese government delegation arriving on Guam for what Fitial described as a “fact-finding” visit, particularly to see if there's suitable place on Guam for more U.S. troops to be relocated off Okinawa.

This is in addition to the estimated 8,000 Marines and their 9,000 dependents who are expected to be relocated by 2014, although Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho asked for the military buildup to be delayed until after 2014.

Fitial and other CNMI officials were one in saying they welcome the relocation of U.S. troops to the Commonwealth provided the U.S. government consents to such move.

“We're not offering them anything. We're just telling them we welcome them, provided that the U.S. government consents or concurs,” the governor said.

Manglona and Fitial clarified that there is no definite plan to move U.S. troops to the CNMI, but it's one of the options being looked at.

“Shimoji said they will recommend moving troops to the CNMI. He gave the range. It could be 2,000 or 3,000 or 4,000,” he said.

Guam trip

Fitial will travel to Guam to attend today's meeting between Guam officials and the visiting Japanese delegation led by Yorihisa Matsuno, deputy chief Cabinet secretary of the Japan Diet.

The three Japanese lawmakers who made a stopover on Saipan were major players in the relocation talks. Shimoji is the policy chief of the People's New Party, one of the tripartite ruling coalitions in Japan, while Abe is the policy chief of the Social Democratic Party. Hattori is also with the Social Democratic Party.

“They're looking at all options, including Guam and the CNMI. I will be listening to what Guam has to say. As I said, I welcome them provided that the U.S. government concurs,” Fitial said.

Manglona said Tinian has been waiting for decades to welcome military presence on the island.

“It seems they have been listening to the people, as they prepare to meet with the U.S. government. We made it clear to the Japanese lawmakers that the CNMI is open, but we defer making decisions to the U.S. government,” Manglona said.

Fitial said as with all other existing relocation plans, any cost to move troops to the CNMI should not be borne by the CNMI.

Both the CNMI and Guam governors had said that socio-economic impacts are the major concerns when it comes to the massive military buildup on Guam, and Fitial said this is also true with any plan to relocate U.S. troops to the CNMI.

Fitial said Japanese lawmakers wanted to visit the CNMI again to see for themselves any room for U.S. troops to be relocated.

Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian) said Tinian welcomes any plan to relocate U.S. troops to the island, two-thirds of which is leased by the U.S. Department of Defense.

“The lease makes it easier for them to come here. We certainly welcome the plan or the option of choosing the CNMI as a site for relocating U.S. troops from Japan,” said Hofschneider, who is the chairman of the Tinian Legislative Delegation.

Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz earlier said that an expected decrease in civilian tourist arrivals to the island as a result of he massive buildup should be mitigated by an increase in military personnel and their families' visit to Tinian for rest and recreation.

Dela Cruz also said the military should ensure an effective quarantine system to prevent brown tree snakes, rhinoceros beetles, and other invasive species from entering Tinian.

'Stretch out and spread out'

Sen. Judith Guthertz of Guam, in a Jan. 28 letter to Joint Guam Program Office executive director David Bice, recommended stretching out and spreading out the relocation of U.S. troops from Okinawa to Guam.

She said the U.S. military should consider relocating the First Marine Aircraft Wing aviation command from Futenma to Tinian and Agrigan or the Goat Island in the CNMI.

“This command numbers about 4,000. The mayor of Tinian and Agrigan has already asked the U.S. military to consider these islands for the buildup. Agrigan is uninhabited and the federal government already has a long-term lease for the northern two-thirds of Tinian,” she told Bice.

Guthertz, who chairs the Committee on the Guam Military Buildup and Homeland Security, said the Marines' movement should be spread over eight years instead of only two years from 2014.

Lastly, she suggested the reduction in size of the movement to Guam by 50 percent-for about 4,000 active duty Marines.

“This would still provide a greater than 100 percent jump in footprint, but provide a greater welcome mat for our Marines,” she told Bice.

The Futenma issue has become a sticking point in the military realignment talks.

The recent election of an anti-base mayor in Nago made it more difficult to move Marine air operations and led to a growing sentiment among Okinawans to move Futenma operations outside Okinawa and outside Japan.

N. Mariana Islands willing to host Marines from Okinawa

N. Mariana Islands willing to host Marines from Okinawa


Feb 10 06:59 AM US/Eastern

HAGATNA, Guam, Feb. 10 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. commonwealth including Tinian, is willing to host the full functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, local leaders said Wednesday, citing economic benefits.

While the commonwealth governor, Benigno Fitial, did not specify which region could be a candidate, Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz told Kyodo News earlier in the day that Tinian can accept the Marine units.

"We welcome anything that will benefit the commonwealth," Fitial told reporters on Saipan after discussing the feasibility of hosting the units in the Pacific region, especially Tinian, with Japanese ruling bloc legislators handling the Futemma base issue.

Fitial said possible relocation of the Futemma base to the commonwealth would "invite the economic benefit in terms of employment...most importantly, economic benefit that will be received from the lease of the land."

The governor added, meanwhile, he understands that full backing of the U.S. government is indispensable to his future effort to push ahead with the idea.

The legislators from Japan are the Social Democratic Party's Tomoko Abe and the People's New Party's Mikio Shimoji, both policy chiefs of the coalition partners of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.

Social, economic impacts of Guam buildup are the 'biggest concerns'

Social, economic impacts of Guam buildup are the 'biggest concerns'

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
By Haidee V. Eugenio

Fitial considers islands 'homeport' for Army joint high-speed vessels

Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho and CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial cited socio-economic impacts as the “biggest” concerns about the massive military buildup in the region, including the lack of funding sources to cushion negative effects to the civilian community worth at least $3 billion in Guam alone and an expected decrease in tourist arrivals on Tinian as a result of increased military presence there.

Guam and the CNMI are racing against time to beat the Feb. 17 deadline for submitting comments on the military buildup's draft environmental impact statement.

The general concern so far is the socio-economic impacts to both Guam and the CNMI, followed by environmental concerns, Camacho and Fitial said.

“We need to be very careful and understand what we are getting into. We don't want to rush into something we don't understand,” Fitial said.

He said the CNMI is “lucky” that it is “learning from Guam's experience.”

'High speed vessels'

Fitial, at the same time, responded to a letter from Guam Sen. Judith Guthertz, who asked whether the CNMI government is interested in having Army joint high speed vessels stationed on Saipan.

“The CNMI will continue to work with and support the territory of Guam in regards to all of the upcoming military realignment in the Pacific region. I will gladly consider having the CNMI as the homeport for stationing and operations of the [joint high speed vessels],” Fitial told Guthertz.

The U.S. Army Environmental Command has opened the public comment period for the preparation of a programmatic environmental impact statement in 2010 for the proposed stationing and operation of up to 12 joint high-speed vessels.

These are strategic transport vessels designed to support the rapid transport of military troops and equipment in the U.S. and abroad.

A copy of the Army's notice of intent is available at www.aec.army.mil.

'Lack of funding sources'

Camacho, who was on Saipan for hours yesterday, said although billions of dollars in construction projects in Guam are promised, “there's no guarantee they will be there tomorrow.”

“There's no funding source to mitigate the impact to our territory,” he said, adding that past experiences resulted in huge debts incurred by Guam that it has come to a point where the island no longer has capability to borrow money.

Camacho said Guam needs a minimum of $3 billion to mitigate the social-impacts of the buildup, but he said no money has been set aside to address these impacts.

He said the buildup cost “should not be something borne by the people,” and that both Japan and the United States should consider the impacts to the host island, including in the area of public health, public safety, schools and housing.

Camacho said another major concern is the environmental impact, including massive dredging of corals at the Apra Harbor.

Guam hired consultants Matrix Design Group to help sift through some 11,000 pages of the draft military buildup EIS for easy understanding.

“No decisions have been made,” Camacho said, adding that comments on the draft EIS will help shape the final EIS to be released later this year.

Tom Linden, the coordinator for the CNMI Military Integration Management Committee, said all comments from mayors have been received and will be finalized this week for submission to the governor. The MIMC seeks to have a unified voice on the planned buildup.

He said there's been no mitigation measure offered so far to address the expected decrease in tourist arrivals to Tinian as a result of limited access to the northern end of the island because of military training.

Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz said Tinian has been “waiting” for the military buildup on Tinian for “30 years,” and hopes the U.S. military will have a permanent base on the island. He hopes an expected decrease in civilian tourist arrivals to the island will be mitigated by an increase in military personnel and their families' visit to Tinian for rest and recreation.

Dela Cruz also said the military should ensure an effective quarantine system to prevent brown tree snakes, rhinoceros beetles and other invasive species from entering Tinian.

Dela Cruz also informed Fitial and Camacho yesterday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told him that the federal agency will issue the Tinian municipality a citation this month because of a non-compliant landfill. He did not elaborate when asked for more information about EPA's citation.

Camacho formally asked U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to delay the implementation of the military buildup in Guam beyond 2014 “to protect the integrity of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and ensure that impacts are minimized to our island infrastructure and socioeconomic services.”

As of yesterday, Guam has yet to receive a response to this request from the U.S. Navy.

But Camacho, in an interview with Saipan Tribune, said he will bring up the issue in the upcoming National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C.

'Move them to Tinian'

Guthertz also urged federal officials to stretch the timeline for the military buildup to alleviate the adverse impacts expected with the population boom.

Guthertz, who chairs the Committee on the Guam Military Buildup and Homeland Security, recommended that the planned relocation of the 8,000 Marines to Guam be reduced by about 4,000.

She said the First Marine Aircraft Wing aviation command can be shifted to Tinian and the uninhabited island of Agrigan in the CNMI.

This, she said, would allow for the relocation of about half of the 8,652 infantry Marines intended to be transferred to Guam to be sent to the vacated Futenma facilities instead.

Because Guam cannot accommodate all training for the relocating Marines, the military also looks at Tinian to provide opportunities for training groups of 200 Marines or larger due to greater land availability.

Fitial respects Guam gov's request for delay in military buildup

Fitial respects Guam gov's request for delay in military buildup

Saturday, January 30, 2010
By Haidee V. Eugenio

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said yesterday that he respects Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho's request to U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to delay the implementation of the military buildup in Guam beyond 2014.

Camacho wrote Mabus a letter on Thursday, asking him that all Guam military buildup program be “delayed to beyond 2014 to protect the integrity of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and ensure that impacts are minimized to our island infrastructure and socioeconomic services.”

Fitial, whose administration is looking at the military buildup as an opportunity to boost the CNMI economy, said he respects Camacho's position on the buildup, which aims to relocate U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan to Guam.

The 15- to $20-billion military buildup in Guam includes the construction of military training ranges on Tinian, two-thirds of which is leased by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Because Guam cannot accommodate all training for the relocating Marines, the military looks at Tinian to provide opportunities for training groups of 200 Marines or larger due to greater land availability. Tinian is only about 100 miles or 160 kilometers away from Guam.

“If the governor of Guam and its people feel that there is a need to delay its implementation, then that is a position rightfully reserved for them. Therefore, Governor Fitial does not intend to write a separate letter to Secretary Mabus. It is important to recognize that without a buildup in Guam, there would be no anticipated impact on the Commonwealth,” said press secretary Angel A. Demapan when asked for comment on Camacho's request.

In his two-page letter to Mabus, Camacho said Article 2 of the Guam International Agreement clearly states that the U.S. shall take necessary measures for the relocation of the U.S. Marines, including funding for projects to develop facilities in Guam.

“I believe that a request for an extension would help lessen the impact of the military buildup on Guam. In fact, during our village workshop on Jan. 20, I expressed my intention to ask the United States to consider extending their deadline for the buildup. The extension will greatly impact every area of public concern. It will lessen the pressure currently being placed on our people to accommodate a significant influx in our population,” said Camacho.

He said in order to ensure that the Guam military buildup program is fully implemented as planned, he asked that the Adaptive Program Techniques as identified in the draft Environmental Impact Statement be used to extend the construction phase of the program.

Camacho said this will enable Guam to be better prepared for the impacts associated with the Marine relocation while protecting the integrity of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

“I believe that this request is consistent with the Guam International Agreement signed by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Japan Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone on Feb. 17, 2009,” he told Mabus.

Mabus was one of ranking U.S. military officials to visit Saipan and Guam last year.

Camacho said there is support of the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam and overall support for the U.S. armed services.

“However, we must not overlook the reality that we have a fragile territorial economy, posses a limited amount of financial resources and lack the capacity to absorb the impacts of 20 years worth of growth in a five-year time frame,” he said.

The request for delay comes at a time when the CNMI and Guam are preparing comments on the 11,000 pages of documents on the military buildup's draft Environmental Impact Statement. The deadline for submitting comments is on Feb. 17.

Guthertz: Slow buildup pace

Guthertz: Slow buildup pace

By Dionesis Tamondong • Pacific Daily News • January 29, 2010

The relocation of Marines to Guam should be stretched out over eight years instead of two, and the military should consider shifting half of those troops to the Northern Marianas, said Democratic Sen. Judith Guthertz.

The senator made these recommendations as part of her comments to the draft Environmental Impact Statement, which details the Department of Defense's buildup plans and the potential impacts.

"The people of Guam are beginning to realize that the proposed relocation to Guam is too large and too quick for Guam's governmental services and infrastructure to adapt," said Guthertz, chairwoman of the Committee on the Guam Military Buildup, during a press conference yesterday.

Gov. Felix Camacho yesterday said he shares the idea of extending the buildup deadline. He said he's written a letter to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus requesting a delay in the buildup.

"The extension of the overall buildup deadline will greatly impact every area of public concern. It will lessen the pressure currently being placed on our people to accommodate a significant influx in our population," the governor said in an e-mail.

Guthertz also urged the reduction of the number of Marines to Guam by half.

She recommended relocating the First Marine Aircraft Wing, an aviation command, from Futenma to Tinian and Aguijan, also known as Goat Island -- a move supported by their respective mayors.

If this happens, the military can transfer about half of the 8,652 Marines intended for Guam from Okinawa's infantry bases to the vacated Futenma facilities.

The Joint Guam Program Office, which is coordinating the buildup on Guam, didn't respond to Guthertz's specific proposals.

"We have forwarded her comments to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific for inclusion in the Final Environmental Impact Statement," JGPO spokesman Capt. Neil Ruggiero said.

Guthertz said her proposals would alleviate the concerns on Guam and Okinawa, and shift some of the economic investments badly needed in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Forum gives answers to military buildup

Forum gives answers to military buildup

Saipan Tribune
Friday, January 29, 2010

The MIMC public forum held Wednesday at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe and broadcast live to Tinian and Rota through sponsors NMC and IT&E provided many answers about the pending military buildup in the Marianas region.

The event drew a larger than anticipated crowd and provided an opportunity for community members to get answers about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and its effects on the islands.

The advisory consulting team from Guam, Celeste Werner and Mike Hrapla, vice presidents of Matrix Design, were on hand to give a presentation of the realities that the CNMI faces in the U.S. Marines' relocation to Guam and Tinian. It covered details of the live fire range, restricted access areas, training frequency, possible future expansion plans, and economic and environmental impacts. They also provided specific details on how to best submit comments to the Joint Guam Program Office so that local concerns can be heard prior to the Feb. 17, 2010, submission deadline.

Each of the islands had three rounds of question and answer periods in which many questions were asked. The most common concern seemed to be restricted access to the north end of Tinian and the numerous cultural and historic landmarks. While the draft EIS only provides potential impacts, the ACT team was able to shed a better perspective on what to expect.

MIMC coordinator Tom Linden was on hand on Tinian and was highly encouraged by the number of students who took the time to attend and ask questions. “The fact that so many students are concerned and interested in how it will influence the future of our islands and culture was very inspiring,” said Linden.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial was very pleased with the turnout of the forum and the active participation of the community. “As stakeholders, we must ensure that the concerns of the community are heard,” said Fitial.

Anyone who wants more information on the Draft EIS or the information that was presented at the MIMC Forum can download the information from the Department of Commerce website at www.commerce.gov.mp or contact Tom Linden at cnmi.mimc@commerce.gov.mp. (PR)

Stretch out, spread out

Stretch out, spread out

Friday, 29 January 2010 00:52
by Mar-Vic Cagurangan | Variety News Staff

Guthertz wants troop number cut by 50%

CUT the size of troop movement by 50 percent. Send some of the Marine aviation command to Tinian. And stretch out the process over eight years.

These sum up the “stretch out and spread out” strategy proposed by Sen. Judi Guthertz as an alternative to the existing plan that reveals complications and draws objections from the community.

Guthertz, chairman of the legislative committee on military buildup, described her proposed plan as “a win-win practical solution to various issues that exists.”

Under the agreement between the United States and Japan, over 8,000 Marines would be relocated from Okinawa to Guam, a plan on which the draft environmental impact statement is premised.

The plan, however, is in limbo because of Japan’s unpredictable mood.

“It is becoming more and more apparent among the people of Guam that the proposed buildup is far too many and far too soon and is coming too quickly,” Guthertz said. “We all need to think out of the box to accommodate the core interests of the parties involved.”

In her official comment on the draft impact report, Guthertz proposes that the number of Marines to be relocated to Guam be reduced to 4,000. The relocation process must be completed over eight years instead of two.

“In this case,” Guthertz said, “the solution would be a three-way win for America, for Japan and for Guam.”

She also proposes that the First Marine Aircraft Wing Aviation Command from Futenma be sent to Tinian and Aguigian, which were both offered by Tinian mayor Ramon dela Cruz as alterative sites for the troops.

Aguigian, also known as Goat Island, is an uninhabited isle 5 miles west of Tinian, which used to host a Japanese garrison during World War II.

Guthertz said the existing relocation plan is not consistent with a 1980 policy decision made the Commander Pacific Command, which capped the military expansion on Guam at 10 percent, acknowledging that the local infrastructure could not absorb anything beyond that set limit.

“This new footprint is not even 10 percent; it’s not event 50 percent. It is a whooping 321 percent increase, more than three times the current number,” Guthertz stated in the official comment submitted to Major General David Bice, executive director of the Joint Guam Program office.

“In considering this plan and in any discussions concerning the buildup,” Guthertz said, “the people of Guam must have a voice at the table.”

The growing activism in Japan that rolls over to elected public offices seems to pose a barrier to the implementation of the 2006 agreement.

On Tuesday, however, a top U.S. military commander in the Pacific expressed confidence that election of a mayor, who opposes the relocation of U.S. air field to Nago City, won’t pose a setback to bilateral agreement to relocate the base.

On Sunday, voters in the town of Nago on Okinawa elected base opponent Susumu Inamine as mayor over incumbent Yoshikazu Shimabukuro. Inamine had campaigned against any expansion of U.S. military presence in the area and won with 52.3 percent of the vote.

PNC :: Guthertz: Tinian Chamber President Offers Tinian As Buildup Alternative To Guam

PNC :: Guthertz: Tinian Chamber President Offers Tinian As Buildup Alternative To Guam

Thursday, 28 January 2010

Guam - Senator Guthertz' office has received a letter from The President of the Tinian Chamber of Commerce, Phillip Mendiola-Long which says that Tinian is a good alternative for the military's land needs.

Mendiola-Long is also a member of the Guam/CNMI Joint Legislative Military Build Up Task Force and the Tinian Mayor’s Military Task Force.

In his letter he writes that Tinian is very much in favor of hosting military personnel and operations and a very good fit with Senator Guthertz' proposal to 'stretch and spread' the military buildup in response to various Guam objections.

And he describes in detail the military lease of two-thirds of Tinian which is part of the Commonwealth Covenant with the United States.

Mendiola-Long's letter is reprinted below:

"There are 18,000 acres leased in total on Tinian, the 14,000 acres referred to subtracts the joint use areas of the port and the airport, which are a part of the original lease with the US Government.

I have attached some documents for historical reference, which outlines the ability for the Marines to in fact relocate to Tinian. Specifically the original Technical Agreement, which details a base opening on Tinian and the local leadership acceptance of it."

"The current leadership fully supports the hosting of Futenma on Tinian and actually it would be seen as more palatable rather than what the Marines (JGPO) plan currently calls for on Tinian. Which by the way has little if any support. The problem is local community expectations of military use for over 30 years and the sacrifice of private development of land that the US government has been sitting on for that time. The people were told (see technical agreement) that their sacrifice of the 18,000 acres would lead to economic development. That has not happened and the current plan offered to the people states that it will NOT happen again…. The only solution is to bring Futenma to Tinian….otherwise the training plan that the Marines are planning will not be accepted by the people."

Read Tinian Lease Provision in Covenant
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/images/pdf/tinianbase.pdf

Written by : News Release

Guthertz wants Marine migration stretched out

Guthertz wants Marine migration stretched out

Posted: Jan 28, 2010 4:44 PM
Updated: Jan 28, 2010 4:44 PM

by Nick Delgado

*Sen. Guthertz's comment paper on spreading the buildup
http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/kuam/custom/news/jguthertz_commentpaper_01282009.PDF

Guam - Senator Judith Guthertz made recommendations to stretch out the time period and minimize the number of Marines slated to relocate from Okinawa to Guam. Guthertz is recommending that the Marines be moved over an eight-year period, as the current footprint anticipates the arrival of more than 40,000 military personnel and their dependants to the island.

The Democrat lawmaker also recommends reducing the size of the movement to Guam by 50% by having the 4,000 in Futenma move to Tinian and Agrihan, as the mayors of those territories have asked that the military consider them for the buildup. Senator Guthertz said, "Relocate 4,000 of the 8,652 Marines originally intended to go to Guam from the current infantry bases in Okinawa to the vated facilities at Futenma, thus thinning out the presence in the populated areas of Okinawa."

Guthertz says she will present her plans to the federal government, the White House, and to Congress in hopes that the agreement between the U.S. and Japan can be reevaluated.