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Lawmakers pin hopes on Dentons to understand draft EIS
CNMI legislators are pinning their hopes on a third-party consultant to finally provide a clearer understanding of the U.S. military’s draft environment impact statement on joint exercises and live-fire activities in the Commonwealth.
The lawmakers met with representatives of Dentons and its partner Environmental Science Associates yesterday on Capital Hill to discuss the initial findings of the consultancy firm.
Nicholas Yost, a partner at Dentons US LLC, told lawmakers that the firm’s role is to “critique” the draft EIS and “advise” the CNMI government.
From left, Matthew Adams, partner at consulting firm of Dentons; Jim Keany, biological director of ESA; and Nicholas Yost, also of Dentons; met with lawmakers yesterday on Capital Hill to discuss their initial findings on the U.S. military’s draft environmental impact statement on proposed “live-fire” activities. (Joel D. Pinaroc)
Matthew Adams, who is also a partner are Dentons, said the initial findings clearly indicate an “inadequate” draft EIS.
Adams also said one of the fundamental flaws of the EIS documents is that it presented a “narrow” set of alternatives.
Jim Keany, biological director and senior program manager at ESA, added that the draft EIS did not present a “cumulative impact” analysis and that it only looked at separate elements.
Rep. Angel A. Demapan (R-Saipan), who chairs the House Committee on Federal and Foreign Affairs, said the initial findings presented were “alarming.”
“We are pinning our hopes on Dentons to provide us a clearer understanding of these documents,” Demapan said, adding that he, like most of his colleagues, is excited to see the report that Dentons will provide.
Rep. Vinson Sablan (Ind-Saipan) said he is glad that Dentons is on board for lawmakers “to see important information” that were not presented before.
For Rep. Joseph “Lee Pan” Guerrero (R-Saipan), the draft EIS was full of “military jargon” and that he hopes Dentons will provide a report that will make it easier for the CNMI to understand certain content of the ESI particularly the National Environmental Policy Act process.
Rep. Blas Jonathan “B.J” Attao (Ind-Saipan), echoed the other lawmakers sentiments, saying that he hopes Dentons can “translate” the draft EIS to help the public understand it more clearly.
Dentons and ESA are currently working with other CNMI departments to conduct a series of public hearings on July 15, 16, and 17. The hearings are meant to generate more public comments on the draft EIS.
