EIS review extension reshapes timeline for environmental review
The U.S. Department of Defense believes an extra two months is adequate for a professional environmental consultant to complete and share their findings with the CNMI on the draft environmental impact statement for military training on Tinian and Pagan.
Any more than two months would put fiscal, congressional, and international factors “at risk,” according to the military.
Gov. Eloy S. Inos originally asked for a six-month extension to give the CNMI more time to hire and have consultants review the draft impact statement.
These consultants, who will be paid using funds from the Office of Insular Affairs, have yet to be hired.
In a letter to the Inos yesterday, copies of which were obtained by Saipan Tribune, Marine Forces Pacific executive director Craig Whelden explained the factors behind their decision.
Whelden said it was determined that the Department of Defense could not support a six-month extension to the EIS’ public comment period.
This after considerable review by Defense and its deputy secretary Robert Work, he said.
Pointing to Inos’ reasons for the request—“to hire technical consultants to ‘help with review and preparation of our written comments’”—Whelden said it was determined that an additional 60 days would meet this requirement.
“By granting a 60-day extension, this will provide the consultant 75 days to meet your needs,” he wrote. “[Defense] believes a professional environmental consultant can complete a review of the [draft impact statement] in 30 days and can then use the remaining 45 days to socialize the finding with the CNMI populace,” he said.
Whelden said their planning timeline is based on commitments to international agreements, congressional planning and programming, and U.S. Pacific Command force posture plans.
“These processes are all intertwined and an extension of greater than 60 days pushes the completion of this process into another fiscal year, putting these considerations at risk,” he explained.
Whelden said they are committed to continuing the “ad-hoc” meetings they’ve held with CNMI officials.
“These meetings provide a unique opportunity for real time engagement and are a perfect venue for [the Department of Defense] to continue to listen to the concerns of the CNMI. [The Department of Defense] is confident that between the [National Environmental Act Process] and the ad-hoc meetings, we can continue to identify and consider options that benefit both parties,” he wrote.
The two-month extension now boosts from 60 days to 120 days the comment period for the EIS.
According to a notional timeline provided by Whelden, a final environmental impact statement is targeted for a July 16, 2016, release.
A record of decision, signed by the Secretary of the Department of Navy, is planned for Aug. 16, 2016.
There is no maximum amount of time set by the law to review the EIS.
Whelden had years to get the EIS done and concludes we only need two months to review it. This is what we have to deal with when they occupy Pagan and Tinian, the eventuality of being ignored while they do want they want. So this whole process was a formality to make it seem they are doing the right thing all along when in fact they really don’t care what we think and have to say. Pura ka’ko. Man ma fababa hit todos.
We can get a lot done in 75 days. If that’s not enough time to come up with a legitimate reason for No Action, maybe we are the ones with a problem. Let’s put away our pitch forks and hire some professionals. If they truly didn’t care, they wouldn’t have granted an extension.
I am sure Puerto Rico and Hawaii regret putting away their pitchforks. The u.s. war machine cares….what a crock. Whelden should be mindful that english is our 2nd language and we need more time to write and submit our comments.
Yes the EIS took time. It takes years to do actual field work and scientific studies. Contracts had to be developed and released. Contractors had to mobilize and do the required field work and then write and publish their reports. And not all field work could be done concurrently. Now all that the CNMI has to do is read what was done and provide comment. Two completely different undertakings requiring vastly different amounts of time.
Am glad you speak english well enough and technically savvy to be able to read over 1,000 pages and understand it. Some of us preparing comments don’t have the capacity to absorb the confusing details provided. What we do understand is the audacity of the u.s. war machine to want to occupy Pagan to destroy it. That much is easy speak with forked tongue, for lack of a better idiom.
You seem to speak (write) well enough to comment. Your local Government will provide the expertise necessary to provide meaningful comments. As will all the interested parties. Be glad that the process is open. Nothing is stopping anyone from bringing a lawsuit to stop or slow the process either.