Fitial declined to give details of his conversation with Lynn, but said the visit was the initial step in preparing the “round of decisions” to be made before Sept. 10 regarding military buildup projects.
He did not elaborate but Fitial said once a decision is signed by President Obama on Sept. 10, it will result in the first wave of the military buildup projects on Guam and the CNMI.
Fitial said it was Lynn’s first time to visit the island, “and he just wanted to see us.”
Fitial said Lynn arrived early in the afternoon along with 21 other officials and after having a late lunch with him, the Defense official left for Guam.
Now that the final environmental impact statement has been signed by Obama, Fitial said the military is now taking the first step in accomplishing the first phase of the buildup.
He expects the granting of awards for construction projects which will include four firing ranges on the northern part Tinian.
He said the CNMI does not have much problem with the buildup as indicated in the final environmental impact statement.
The people of Tinian, he added, have been waiting for this buildup for 30 years.
Last Tuesday, Lisa Fiedler, the environmental director of the Joint Guam Program Office, distributed copies of the final environmental impact assessment to the governor and other key agencies in the CNMI.
In an e-mail interview, JGPO public affairs officer, Maj. Neil A. Ruggiero, confirmed that there will be a live fire range on Tinian.
JGPO, he added communicates regularly with the CNMI leadership on relocation issues.
