Comments sought for Draft EIS of Guam air and missile defense system

The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and the Federal Aviation Administration, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System in Guam.

The Draft EIS includes an analysis of the potential environmental impacts that may result from the proposed construction, deployment, and operations and maintenance of the EIAMD system to defend Guam against advanced missile threats (Proposed Action).

Mitigation measures that, if employed, could avoid, minimize, or mitigate potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action are also analyzed in the Draft EIS. The MDA and cooperating agencies welcome the public’s participation during the Draft EIS public review and comment period.

Open house public meetings

To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and to further the involvement opportunity under the National Historic Preservation Act, MDA and cooperating agencies will hold three in-person public meetings:

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, 4pm-7pm, Hågat Mayor’s Office Community Center, Building 393, Route 2, Hågat, Guam

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, 4pm-7pm, Hilton Guam Resort, Micronesian Room, 202 Hilton Rd., Tumon Bay, Guam

Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, 5pm-8pm, Dededo Senior Center, 319 Iglesia Circle, Dededo, Guam

Public meetings will be in an open-house format and will include poster stations staffed by MDA and representatives of the cooperating agencies who can provide information and answer questions about the Proposed Action and the findings of the Draft EIS. Attendees will be able to submit official oral and written comments during the public meetings. Oral comments from the public will be recorded by a court reporter in a one-on-one setting. Equal weight will be given to oral and written comments.

Submitting comments

The MDA and cooperating agencies invite the public to review the Draft EIS and submit official comments during the public review and comment period from Oct. 25, 2024, through Jan. 8, 2025. The Draft EIS is available for download on the project website or in print at the University of Guam Robert F. Kennedy and the Nieves M. Flores memorial libraries.

NEPA requires a 45-day public comment period, but MDA is providing a 75-day comment period to allow more time for the public to review and submit substantive comments. To ensure a response and appropriate consideration in the Final EIS, comments must be postmarked or received online by Jan. 8, 2025. Comments on the Draft EIS may be submitted at the public meetings, online at www.EIAMD-EIS.com, by email to info@EIAMD-EIS.com, or by U.S. postal mail to:

ManTech International Corporation

Attention: EIAMD EIS Project Support

PMB 403

1270 N. Marine Corps Dr., Suite 101

Tamuning, Guam 96913-4331

Proposed action

Within the context of homeland defense, Guam is a key strategic location for sustaining and maintaining U.S. capabilities, deterring adversaries, responding to crises, and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. As a U.S. territory, an attack on Guam would be considered a direct attack on the United States and would be met with an appropriate response. Current U.S. forces are capable of defending Guam against today’s regional ballistic missile threats. However, regional missile threats to Guam continue to increase and advance technologically. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command identified a requirement for a 360-degree EIAMD system on Guam as soon as possible to address the rapid evolution of adversary missile threats.

The Proposed Action is to construct, deploy, and operate and maintain a comprehensive, persistent, 360-degree EIAMD system to defend the people, infrastructure, and territory of Guam against the rapidly evolving threats of advanced cruise, ballistic, and hypersonic missile attacks from regional adversaries. The proposed system includes a combination of components from MDA, the Army, and the Navy that would be integrated for air and missile defense. These components include missile defense radars, sensors, missile launchers and missile interceptors, and command and control systems.

The MDA and the Army need to strategically locate and integrate the various system components at multiple sites around Guam. The MDA and the Army identified 16 proposed sites on Guam, all on Department of Defense property. A limited number of the proposed sites would require acquisition of appropriate real property interests on non-federal properties for access, or where buffer and safety zone arcs encroach on non-federal properties. If the decision is made to proceed with the Proposed Action, site preparation and construction would begin in 2025 and continue, site by site, through 2035. The EIAMD operational capability would be phased in as each site completes construction, testing, and final system checks of the installed components. Following final construction, testing, and final system-wide checks, the EIAMD system would become fully operational.

National Historic Preservation Act Section 106

The Draft EIS public review and comment period also supports the NHPA Section 106 process. The Navy has determined that the proposed undertaking shall follow The Programmatic Agreement Among the Commander, Navy Region Marianas, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Guam Historic Preservation Officer, Regarding Navy Undertakings on the Island of Guam (2008) to fulfill Section 106 responsibilities and to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate effects on historic properties. Members of the public are welcome to provide comment.

To provide input or learn how to become a consulting party, submit your request at the public meetings, online at www.EIAMD-EIS.com, by email to info@EIAMD-EIS.com, or by U.S. postal mail to the address above.

Visit the project website at www.mda.mil/system/eiamd to learn more about the project. (PR)