Public comments sought on impact of increased military activities in region

Time has started ticking for the CNMI and Guam to comment on the U.S. military’s over 1,400-page study on the potential environmental impact of increased military activities in training areas known as the Mariana Islands Range Complex, MIRC.

The 45-day comment period began on Jan. 30 and ends on March 16, 2009.

The training and testing range complex includes land, air and sea areas on and around Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan and Farrallon de Medinilla.

Before any increase in military activity or presence in the Marianas, the military must determine what impact those activities will have on the environment, which comprises not just water resources, air quality, marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and essential fish habitat, seabirds and shorebirds and plants, but also the economic well-being, cultural resources and the health and safety of people living in the CNMI and Guam.

The study identifies aspects that could act as “stressors” to the environment.

The stressors considered for analysis of potential environmental consequences include but are not limited to vessel and vehicle movements, aircraft overflights, non-explosive practice munitions, sonar, and underwater detonations, high explosive ordnance, building modification and foot traffic.

Yesterday, CNMI Land and Natural Resources Secretary Dr. Ike de la Cruz said it is important for the general public to read the draft study.

“The impact on the environment is a very important concern that’s why I recommend we review the draft study,” he told Saipan Tribune.

This early, some CNMI residents have expressed concern about the possible entry of more brown tree snakes from Guam, effects on sea turtles, humpback whales and other species, and water contamination, among other things.

However, the draft environmental impact statement/overseas environmental impact statement states that “no significant impacts are identified for any resource area in any geographic location within the MIRC study area that cannot be mitigated, with the exception of exposure of marine mammals to underwater sound.”

The draft EIS/OEIS says that “existing hazardous materials and waste management systems are sufficient for handling of wastes generated,” and that there’s “no significant harm to water quality” and “air quality.”

It also says the proposed action has no significant harm to fish populations or habitat, seabirds and shorebirds, among other things.

A copy of the draft MIRC IEIS/OEIS can be accessed online at http://www.marianasrangecomplexeis.com/otherresources.aspx.

The U.S. Navy drafted the EIS/OEIS to study the potential effects on the environment “from current and future military training and testing activities in the Mariana Islands.”

Volume 1 of the draft MIRC EIS/OEIS consists of 868 pages, while Volume 2 has 576 pages.

Different from relocation impact study

The MIRC EIS/OEIS document is different from the Guam and CNMI Marine Relocation EIS/OEIS for the relocation of Marine forces from Okinawa to Guam, which has been estimated to cost as much as $15 billion. The relocation EIS/OEIS is still being worked on.

The buildup calls for the relocation of some 8,000 U.S. Marines and about 9,000 of their family members to Guam from 2010 to 2014.

However, there will be overlap between the two EIS/OEIS in the area of increased use of existing military ranges as a result of the pending relocation.

The proposed action focuses on the development and improvement of existing training capabilities in the MIRC to achieve service readiness, and will not include any military construction projects.

[B]Public hearings[/B]

The U.S. Navy has scheduled five public hearings on the draft MIRC EIS/OEIS in the CNMI and Guam.

Each of them will consist of an open house session and a two-hour public hearing from 7pm to 9pm for the public to learn more and provide comments on the draft study. Project team representatives will be available during the open house to answer questions related to the draft EIS/OEIS.

The first public hearing will be in Guam, on Feb. 19 and 20.

This will be followed by a Feb. 23 hearing on Saipan, at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.

The Tinian hearing will be held Feb. 24 in the cafeteria of Tinian Elementary School.

On Rota, the public hearing will be Feb. 26 in the Sinapalo Elementary School cafeteria.

Written comments about the draft EIS/OEIS may be submitted during the open house sessions and public hearings, or sent via e-mail at marianas.tap.eis@navy.mil or via postal mail: Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Attn: EV2, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134.

The MIRC is used to support tactical training by the U.S. military services, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Army Reserves, and National Guard, in the Western Pacific Theater.

In the notice of public hearings on the Federal Register, the Department of Defense said the proposed action does not involve extensive changes to MIRC facilities, operations, trainings, or research, development, test and evaluation capacities.

Rather, the proposed action would result in relatively small-scale but critical enhancements to the MIRC that are necessary if the military services are to maintain a state of military readiness in line with their national defense mission.

[B]ON THE NET[/B] http://www.marianasrangecomplexeis.com/otherresources.aspx

[B]ADDRESS COMMENTS TO:[/B] E-mail: marianas.tap.eis@navy.mil
Postal mail: Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS
258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Attn: EV2
Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134.