MITT Draft SEIS/OEIS comment period extended, meetings set

SANTA RITA, Guam—The U.S. Navy invites the public to attend open house public meetings for the Mariana Islands Training and Testing Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement.

Due to the effects of Typhoon Wutip, Navy officials postponed public meetings supporting the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS planned for Feb. 26-27. Rescheduled public meeting dates and locations are listed below.

The public comment period has been extended by 15 days from March 18 to April 2. The Navy will host separate meetings in Guam and in the CNMI in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act to specifically focus on effects to historic properties. The purpose of the section 106 meetings are to engage with existing consulting parties.

In the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS, the Navy evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with ongoing and future military readiness activities conducted within the Study Area at sea and on Farallon de Medinilla. The Navy requests and welcomes substantive public comments on the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS.

Open house public meetings

The Navy will hold four open house public meetings to provide information, answer questions, and give the public an opportunity to comment on the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS. The public may arrive at any time during the meetings, as there will not be a presentation or public oral comment session. The meetings will be held at the following locations:

– TINIAN: Thursday, March 14, 1-3:30pm, Tinian Public Library

– ROTA: Friday, March 15, 1:30-4:30pm, Rota Mayor’s Office

– SAIPAN: March 18, 5pm – 8pm, Kanoa Resort Saipan Seaside Hall

– GUAM: Tuesday, March 19, 5-8pm, University of Guam Jesus & Eugenia Leon Guerrero School of Business and Public Administration Building, Anthony Leon Guerrero Multi-Purpose Room 129 and Henry Sy Atrium Mangilao, Guam

Availability

The U.S. Navy is seeking public review and comment on the proposed action and alternatives, and the accuracy and adequacy of the environmental analysis. The Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS is available for public review online at www.MITT-EIS.com and at the following locations:

– GUAM: Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Library, University of Guam; and Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library

– SAIPAN: Joeten-Kiyu Public Library

– TINIAN: Tinian Public Library

– ROTA: Antonio C. Atalig Memorial Library

The Navy will accept comments throughout the extended public comment period, which ends April 2. All comments must be postmarked or received online by April 2, for consideration in the Final Supplemental EIS/OEIS. Comments may be submitted online at www.MITT-EIS.com, at the public meetings, or by mail to:

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific
Attention: MITT EIS/OEIS Project Manager
258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100
Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134

Proposed action

The proposed action is to conduct at-sea training and testing activities within the study area. These activities include the use of active sonar and explosives while employing marine species mitigation measures. The purpose of the Proposed Action, which remains the same as the 2015 MITT Final EIS/OEIS, is to maintain a ready force to ensure the military can accomplish its mission to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready forces.

The proposed at-sea training and testing activities are generally consistent with those analyzed in the 2015 MITT Final EIS/OEIS and are similar to activities the military has conducted in the Study Area for decades.

Visit the project website at www.MITT-EIS.com to download the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS and submit substantive comments online. (PR)