Navy official assures no harm in exercises

Amid criticisms on the destruction of marine life brought about by the bombing exercises at the Farallon de Mendinilla, the commander of the USS Kitty Hawk yesterday assured the CNMI that the U.S. Navy has been trying its best to mitigate the environmental impact on the areas surrounding the island.

According to Rear Adm. Timothy J. Keating, the U.S. Navy is aware of its responsibility in making sure that the people and the whole environment is properly protected as it keep tract on the number of weapons used in FDM.

The reefs around FDM comprise the largest coral reef under federal jurisdiction in the U.S. Western Pacific Region, outside of the Hawaiian archipelago. Several commercial fishing operations are currently using the area and some fishermen believe that resources in these waters are being affected by the bombing.

In a letter to the Pacific Navy Command in Hawaii, the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council expressed concern on the effect of the bombing on the environment as cliffside erosion could be accelerated due to repeated hits contributing to the sedimentation which could destroy the coral reefs as essential fish habitat.

According to Kitty M. Simonds, executive director, the Council is worried about the safety of the fishermen in the area who may not have been adequately warned of a pending bombing.

The U.S. Navy is currently finalizing the environmental impact statement required by the Environmental Protection Agency on the military training in the Marianas. Results of the EIS will be released next month.

Earlier results of the environmental impact statement suggest that the nearshore environment is in good condition and it remains to be known whether there are any significant impacts due to bombing.

Last year, the Council has been asked to comment on the revised environmental impact statement for military training in the Marianas. “While conclusions of your DEIS suggest that the nearshore environment is in good condition, it remains to be known whether there are any significant impacts due to bombing, considering the brief and qualitative nature of the marine survey,” said Kitty M. Simonds, executive director of the Council.

Although the Council recognizes the importance of continuous military training in Farallon, the Council strongly recommended that a quantitative marine impact assessment of the reef habitat and commercial resources be made every 1-2 year intervals in all areas where bombs have landed within the three-mile radius bombing range surrounding the island.

“Bombings should be restricted to localized terrestial sites or as close to the shoreline as possible. If any significant impacts become apparent, bombing should cease until improved mitigation measures are implemented,” Simonds said. She added that military training activity in all other areas of the Marianas should minimize and mitigate impacts on reefs and marine resources.