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CPA: No to divert airfield
Guam community speaks on their experience
The Commonwealth Ports Authority passed a resolution last week essentially saying “no” to a divert airfield on Saipan.
The resolution informs the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Department of Defense that CPA will “only endorse and enter agreement for location of the divert [airfield] on the island of Tinian [and] will not support nor submit an airport layout plan for the Saipan International Airport for divert activities.”
The resolution reiterates the CPA board’s stance as expressed in a December 2013 letter to the Air Force.
The resolution cites Gov. Eloy S. Inos, who said the proposed location of an airfield near CPA grounds is undesirable “as it would impede future commercial development in the area.”
The resolution also notes Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan’s (Ind-MP) amendment of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 that essentially allows the $29.3 million authorized for the Air Force’s divert activity initiatives to be used on Tinian.
‘Unnecessarily loud’
The Draft Environment Impact Statement prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that the 11,905 residents of Dandan and nearby areas would be exposed to decibel levels that are predicted to be “severe.”
Saipan Tribune talked to some Guam community members who grew up near the Andersen Air Force base in Yigo to gauge how Air Force activity may be like to the community here.
Alfie Calubacquib, said her experience growing up near an Air Force base was “not too bad” overall but added, “The only thing that was kind of annoying was when they would do flight drills. The jets were really loud.”
Another Yigo resident, Arnie Velasco, described his neighborhood as relatively peaceful except when planes fly across.
Scott Alexander said that while it got “very loud” at times, he felt that staying near the base made him feel “secure.”
Johanna Salinas described the Air Force jets as “unnecessarily loud.”
“I know the military has made silent airplanes but why must they keep using the noisy ones. I don’t like the military taking all of Yigo and acting like they deserve our respect,” she said.
