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Deadline extended to respond to divert project’s ‘findings of effect’
The U.S. Air Force has extended a deadline to respond to their “findings of effect” for a proposed divert airfield project on Saipan and Tinian, the Office of the Governor confirmed yesterday.
“Yes, the extension was granted,” press secretary Ivan Blanco told Saipan Tribune yesterday.
That means consulting parties will have until Oct. 29 to review and respond to the Air Force’s findings, from an original deadline of Oct. 15. The Office of the Governor was informed of the extension last Saturday.
The findings of effect are essentially the Air Force’s assessment of how a proposed “CNMI Divert Airfield” project would affect historical properties on Saipan or Tinian. The findings—released in August—are part of the Section 106 process of the National Historic Policy Act, which mandates federal agencies to assess their impacts on historical properties.
In August, the Air Force, through Col. Michael R. Cardoza, shared their latest proposed findings. “The Air Force finds that the proposed action would have no direct adverse effect on contributing elements to the Aslito/Isley Field, on the Saipan Landing Beaches [a national historical landmark], Aslito/Isley Field, Marpi Point National Historic Landmark [NHL] or other historic properties on Saipan,” writes Cardoza in his August letter.
“However, the USAF finds that certain proposed actions in the various alternatives could have an adverse effect on the American Administration-period West Field site on Tinian and possible indirect adverse effect on the setting and feeling of the Aslito/Isley Field National Historic District on Saipan,” Cardoza adds.
The Air Force and local consulting parties have scheduled conference calls to discuss the effects of the divert project this October. The first one is scheduled on Oct. 1.
