Public’s input sought on Mariana Islands Training, Testing EIS/OEIS

SANTA RITA, Guam-The U.S. Navy is in the initial stages of preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with military readiness training and research, development, testing and evaluation (“training and testing”) activities.

Training and testing activities may include the use of active sonar and explosives in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) EIS/OEIS Study Area. The MITT Study Area includes the existing Mariana Islands Range Complex (MIRC), additional areas on the high seas and a transit corridor where training and testing activities may occur.

Public scoping meetings

The military services encourage public input and involvement to identify community concerns and issues for analysis in the EIS/OEIS during this scoping phase of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. To inform and involve the public, the services will hold five open house public meetings to discuss the scope of the MITT EIS/OEIS and obtain public input.

The public scoping meetings will be held from 5pm to 8pm at the following locations. The public may arrive at any time during each scoping meeting. There will be no formal presentation. Military representatives will be available to discuss and answer questions on the project and the Proposed Action.

Guam
Date: Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011
Location: University of Guam
Leon Guerrero School of Business and Public Administration Building
Anthony Leon Guerrero Multi-Purpose Room 129
Mangilao, Guam 96923

Date: Friday, Sept. 23, 2011
Location: Southern High School, Cafeteria
#1 Jose Perez Leon Guerrero Drive
Santa Rita, Guam 96915

Saipan
Date: Monday, Sept. 26, 2011
Location: Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe
Saipan, MP 96950

Tinian
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011
Location: Tinian High School, Cafeteria
San Jose Village
Tinian, MP 96952

Rota
Date: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011
Location: Sinapalo Elementary School, Cafeteria
Sinapalo I, Songsong Village
Rota, MP 96951

Commenting information

Public comments will be accepted throughout the 60-day comment period, from Sept. 8, 2011, to Nov. 7, 2011. All written comments must be postmarked or received online by Nov. 7, 2011, to be considered in the development of the Draft EIS/OEIS. Written comments may be mailed to:

Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific

Attention: MITT EIS/OEIS Project Manager
258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100
Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134

Comments may be submitted online at www.mitt-eis.com or submitted in person at the public scoping meetings.

Background

The military services propose to conduct military readiness training and testing activities within the MITT Study Area. The Proposed Action would support training and testing activities associated with new weapons, combat systems, sensors, related equipment and force structure changes within the MITT Study Area to ensure critical military requirements are met. This action is needed to support applicable environmental reauthorizations, consultations and other associated environmental requirements for those training and testing activities. The MITT EIS/OEIS is the reevaluation and reauthorization of training and testing activities reviewed in the MIRC EIS/OEIS, which the Navy completed with community input in 2010.