By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

DAVID Bice, the head of the Joint Guam Program Office, is satisfied with the public scoping meetings that were conducted on Guam and the CNMI to discuss the effects of the relocation of 8,000 Marines from Okinawa.
The scoping meetings were held to get the public’s feedback on the Marine relocation plan preparatory to the drawing up of an environmental impact statement, or EIS, which is a detailed study of the potential consequences a federal action might have on people or the environment.
According to Bice, the scoping meetings attracted big crowds in Yona and Dededo, Guam, as well as in the CNMI.
“A lot of questions were asked and comments made. The feedback has been wide-ranging. Most of the questions raised were issues of interest to the individual whether it was noise, traffic or a specific issue,” Bice said.
On Guam, however, there were activists who protested the continued expansion of the military. Some activists hung protest posters on the sites of the scoping meetings.
But overall, the reaction of the public expressed during the scoping meetings was positive.
“Landowners were particularly interested in how they could do business with the military. Many of the topics discussed were economic in nature. They wanted to know what the impact would be on the Guam economy,” Bice said.
Other questions dealt with infrastructure as residents wanted to know the impact on Guam’s roads, the water system, and solid waste.
“They also wanted to find out about specific plans such as where the Marines will be housed. But we still don’t have those plans because the study itself would derive the actual location of the forces,” Bice said.
The scoping meetings were held like an informal open house with visuals placed around the room in information stations. The information shown was what is intended to be included in the EIS to be developed over the next few years.
“The folks liked the informal setting wherein they can leisurely walk around, see the posters, and handouts. I think that contributed to the success of the meetings. The people were relaxed and not intimidated,” Bice said.
According to Bice, the EIS will be developed through more data gathering and analysis according to procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act.
People who want to provide additional feedback can still mail in their written comments until May 1.
“I’ve enjoyed interacting with the public. We wanted to hear their comments to make sure that as we do our study, we are addressing their comments. Rest assured that all their verbal and written comments will be taken into consideration,” Bice said.