By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE military build-up on Guam may affect the islands’ natural resources, according to the Coastal Resources Management Office’s Kathy Yuknavage.
She said the CNMI and Guam are now discussing the potential impact on coastal resources of the increased military presence in the region.
Yuknavage said although CRMO also favors economic development, “such development should not be at the expense of natural resources “that we rely on for the long term.”
She said the economic benefit of the increased military presence in the region should not be outweighed by its environmental cost.
“We have to make sure that the long term cost to natural resources is not more than we can afford,” she said.
According to Yuknavage, CRMO and its counterpart on Guam have already communicated with military authorities regarding their concerns.
She said they are still waiting for the military’s reply, and are hoping to sit down with military authorities this month.