Saipan Chamber of Commerce meets with Bolivar

Photo shows, from left, Mike Johnson, Marine Maj. Gen. Michael Dana, Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Alex Sablan, Navy Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, Donna Krum, Roy Tsustui, Wayne Gillespie, and Air Force Brig. Gen. Steven Basham. (Contributed Photo)

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce held a productive meeting with military officials at its office yesterday morning. The meeting was an introduction to Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar and other officials and went a long way toward clearing up misperceptions on both sides in regard to the U.S. Air Force’s divert initiative.

Marine Maj. Gen. Michael Dana from Pacific Command, Bolivar as the Pacific Command’s Defense Representative for CNMI, and Air Force Brig. Gen. Steven Basham from Pacific Air Forces sat down with the Chamber’s board of directors and its Armed Forces Committee. The meeting was open and informal, and the military openly addressed and discussed areas of concern for the Chamber members.

In that meeting, military officials clearly stated that both Tinian and Saipan are still on the table regarding the divert airfield, and no decision has been made. The goal is to reach a win-win situation for both the U.S. Department of Defense and the CNMI.  The Chamber also learned that the Air Force has de-scoped the initiative specific to Saipan and fighter aircraft will no longer be part of this annual training. This decision was made because the CNMI had expressed concern about how jet noise would affect the surrounding areas.

The military reinforced that, unless there is a national emergency, divert will only be used for 4-8 weeks per year by tanker aircraft during annual training. Tanker aircraft are similar to the commercial aircraft that land and take off from Saipan each day.  No matter what the decision is, the Air Force expressed their commitment to cause no adverse impact on commercial operations. Airfield development that accompanies both Tinian and Saipan alternatives will consider sharing some infrastructure under a Joint Land Use Agreement.  The military reiterated that they are committed to being good stewards of the CNMI’s resources and its environment.

The next several months will continue to see ongoing communication between the Department of Defense and CNMI.  These military leaders, along with Craig Whelden from Marine Forces Pacific, who was on-island meeting with the governor and lieutenant governor, are showing a military cohesion. They have expressed willingness to work with the Chamber and the CNMI in a transparent manner.  The military officials are requesting for CNMI agencies to allow the EIS process to continue to help the military make the best informed decision. (SCC)