Navy to prepare supplemental EIS for live fire training ranges in Guam

ASAN, Guam-The Department of Navy on Friday published a Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a live‐fire training range complex to support the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan to Guam. A public scoping period has now begun and comments will be accepted until midnight, April 6, 2012 (Chamorro Standard Time).

The SEIS will supplement the Final EIS for the Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Military Relocation. The SEIS is specific to the live‐fire training range complex in Guam and will evaluate the potential environmental consequences that may result from the construction and operation of the complex and associated infrastructure.

In response to public concerns, a decision on the location for the live‐fire training range complex was deferred in the September 2010 Record of Decision on the Final EIS.

In January 2011, the Under Secretary of the Navy committed that the proposed live fire training activities would be conducted in a manner such that access to Pagat Village, Cave, and the existing trail leading to these sites would remain available 24 hours per day, seven days per week as is currently available today. Since that time, the Navy has been evaluating options to satisfy this commitment while also meeting the training requirements of the relocating Marines.

The Navy has preliminarily identified five alternatives for the range complex: two in the areas adjacent to Route 15, and three at the Naval Magazine (NAVMAG), also known as the Naval Munitions Site. The SEIS will also consider the No Action Alternative.

“The Navy takes very seriously the concerns raised during the previous EIS process and remains committed to its promise to not impact access to Pagat Village and Cave,” said Joint Guam Program Office Director Joseph Ludovici. “None of the alternatives that are currently under consideration for the SEIS will affect these areas.”

The training range complex is necessary to effectively meet Marine Corps individual weapons training. The live fire training range complex will consist of a Known Distance (KD) rifle range, KD pistol range, Modified Record of Fire Range, nonstandard small arms range, Multipurpose Machine Gun Range, and a hand grenade range. The proposed action also includes associated roadways and supporting infrastructure.

The Navy will hold three public, open house‐style scoping meetings in Guam. During the meetings, the Navy will collect public comments on the SEIS scope, environmental concerns or topics for consideration.

Meetings will be held as follows:

-Saturday, March 17, from 1pm to 5pm, University of Guam Field House, Mangilao

-Monday, March 19, from 5pm to 9pm, Southern High School, Santa Rita

-Tuesday, March 20, from 5pm to 9pm, Yigo Gymnasium, Yigo

Interested parties who are unable to attend the scoping meetings may provide comments online at http://bit.ly/Guam_LFTRC_SEIS or by mail. Comments may be mailed to:

Joint Guam Program Office (JGPO) Forward
P.O. Box 153246
Santa Rita, Guam 96915

“Public participation in the SEIS process is very important to the Navy,” Ludovici said. “Comments from the community will help us shape what we will study and to better understand the potential impacts of the training ranges.”

The scoping period will remain open until midnight April 6, 2012 (Chamorro Standard Time). All mailed comments must be postmarked by that date.

For more information, visit the project website at http://bit.ly/Guam_LFTRC_SEIS. Access to the website is public. Individual computer settings may prompt a certificate error pop‐up message. Just accept the certificate in the pop‐up window to proceed to the site. As a reminder, the website address is case sensitive. (JGPO)