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Impact of military exercises worries governor
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Posted on Apr 02 1999
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday said he supports fresh efforts to conduct a new environmental impact statement on the destruction of marine resources brought about by US military bombing exercises at the Farallon de Mendinilla.
The governor said he was worried over reports indicating massive destruction of the reefs surrounding FDM which compromise the largest coral reef area under federal jurisdiction in the US Western Pacific region.
American troops conduct periodic bombing exercises on that island which have drawn criticisms from the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, a policy-making body which polices the fishing activities in the region.
According to the Council, bombing activities on the environment could accelerate cliffside erosion, contributing to the sedimentation that destroys coral reefs as essential fish habitat.
“I think it’s only appropriate that we should look into it and look into the report if it’s really damaging the reef and endangering the marine life,” the governor told reporters.
Tenorio said he was assured by the US military officials that they are taking necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of the bombing exercises on the reefs and the whole island.
But several legislators have nevertheless sounded the alarm bell on the environmental hazards of the bombings and have called for an assessment survey of the marine resources at FDM.
In a recent conference of the Council, participants have strongly recommended that a quantitative marine impact assessment of the reef habitat and productive commercial resources be conducted every 1-2 year intervals in all areas within the three-mile radius bombing range surrounding the island.
Although the Council said it recognizes the importance of the military exercises, US troops must ensure that bombings are restricted to localized terrestrial sites or close to the shorelines if possible.
“If any significant impact become apparent, bombing should cease until improved mitigation measures are implemented,” the Council said.
