Northern Island mayor unhappy with military plans

Northern Island Mayor Valentin I. Taisakan has expressed disappointment with what he said is the U.S. military’s lack of adequate information on its plans for the Mariana Islands Range Complex.

In a letter to the MIRC office in Hawaii sent Monday, the mayor cited five major concerns that he hopes the military will seriously consider in drafting its environmental impact statement for the range complex.

“I want to express my disappointment of the military, or its appropriate department or agency, for not providing or sharing information with this office of any military plans being considered for development in the islands north of Saipan,” Taisakan said, adding that the Northern Islands people have the right to know and learn about any military development plan and activities that may have started or being considered to begin sometime in the near future.

“Such military development plan and activities concern their interest and livelihood,” he added.

Taisakan said it is not clear to them whether the additional 10-mile expansion being proposed for the Farallon de Medinilla target range is inclusive of the 3-mile limit that is already in place or an extension from the 3-mile limit.

“This must be clear. While there may be a need by the military for such expansion for their warfare exercises now or in the immediate future, the total area of such expansion shall not exceed 206 acres or 83 hectares as agreed upon in the Covenant. Otherwise, the military or the U.S. Department of Defense must officially consult with the CNMI government and negotiate for conditions of such expansion,” Taisakan said.

With the possibility of furthering military exercises 10 miles beyond the current 3 miles target practice, the mayor said the waters surrounding the Farallon de Medinilla would be affected and would impact the island’s fishermen.

“Definitely, such military exercises will greatly affect the amount of catch by commercial fishermen contributing to our local economy. This is a legitimate concern the U.S. military should take into serious consideration,” the mayor said.

While he may have no objection to such training and exercises, Taisakan believes that the use of machinery, equipment, and weaponry that uses chemical or nuclear devise is harmful and deadly to the people and the environment.

“If studies find absolute proof that these debris or fallouts did in fact contained such harmful and deadly matters, objects and other things of which they may have spread in the water, land, or in the air, the military must immediately suspend all of their training and exercises in the interest of protecting the health and lives of the people affected,” he said.

The mayor also wants strict implementation of the 30-day notice for scheduled trainings and exercises. He said the current practice of issuing “public notices” by the military is not reliable and unacceptable.

Because training exercises may involve sunken ships of the military, Taisakan worries the toxins that may be produced by these materials and their impact on the environment and people.