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Typhoon foils Inos’ meeting with military
The meeting between the military’s top brass in the Pacific and Gov. Eloy S. Inos has been canceled due to Typhoon Dolphin.
An advisory earlier said Joint Region Marianas Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar and Marine Forces Pacific executive director Craig Whelden were set to accompany the Deputy Commander of U.S. Pacific Command in the meeting, followed by a press briefing.
The agenda of the meeting was not disclosed in the advisory, but it was expected to include discussions on the CNMI government’s request for an extension of the review period for a draft environmental impact statement on proposed “live-fire” exercises on Tinian and Pagan.
Decision on draft EIS review
Inos and members of the Legislature earlier asked the U.S. military for a six-month review of the draft EIS instead of the military’s prescribed 45 days.
Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan) said MarForPac’s Whelden acknowledged the request letter and has replied.
“Mr. Whelden has informed [me] that [the military] will hold off on making a decision regarding extending the comment period until after they have received input for the public hearings. He noted that a decision may be forthcoming in the first or second week of May,” he had said.
Inos has confirmed that the U.S. military will decide on a request to extend the CNMI’s review period of the draft EIS only after the public hearings on the EIS are completed.
“The military has responded to me and that they will go through the public hearings. It appears they will not make any decision until after all the scheduled public hearings are complete,” Inos had said.
The governor said he continues to meet with the military but only on the ad hoc level to discuss some details on the draft EIS.
The public hearings were held April 29 on Saipan, April 30 on Tinian, and the third and last hearing last May 1, also on Saipan.
