Philip Mendiola-Long, president & chairman of the TCC, said their comments on certain portions of the draft environmental impact statement, or DEIS, for Guam and the CNMI Military Relocation are “meant to constructively point out unintentional consequences caused by the military’s action.”
“The Tinian Chamber of Commerce wishes to make it clear that our membership fully supports military investment on Tinian,” said Mendiola-Long in their 12-page paper supporting the military’s presence on Tinian.
“The island of Tinian has endured over 30 years of pent up expectations for the military’s use and development of the 18,000 acres of leased land on Tinian. Therefore, we look forward as equal stakeholders, to ensure that both parties, the people of Tinian and the military, ensure that our future cohabitation and stewardship of Tinian is successful and enduring,” he added.
The comment period for the DEIS ends this Wednesday. The public comments gathered will be considered for the final draft of the master plan for both Guam and the CNMI.
The U.S. and Japan agreed in 2006 to realign their forces that will cost both governments at least $10 billion once the project is completed in 2014 that involves the relocation of about 8,000 American Marines and over 1,000 U.S. Air Force personnel from Okinawa, Japan to Guam.
The DEIS took two years to complete.
Japan, however, also wants the U.S. to relocate the controversial Futenma Air Base in Okinawa.
Guam, however, is not keen on taking Futenma but the CNMI government is.
Mendiola-Long said their group welcomes the U.S. military but asked that it takes diligence in addressing matters that will affect their tourism industry.
“It is clear that tourism will be impacted by the military’s proposed action. Tinian tourism will be directly impacted due to constrained and in some instances zero access to tourist sites. Tinian tourism will also be significantly impacted by the range sound impacts to the pristine and tranquil environment which in some cases overlaps tourist roads, beaches and historical sites,” he said.
“And lastly, Tinian tourism access to historical and recreational areas in the Northern part of Tinian will be diverted to non-paved roads, which would impede access by large tour buses. Since the DEIS clearly identifies the lack of positive economic impact and accurately notates the possible negative economic impacts, it seems misplaced as a mitigation measure to recommend the CNMI government mitigate negative actions caused by the military’s action,” he added.
The U.S. military has a leasehold interest on two-thirds of Tinian’s public lands up to 2055.
