This was the recommendation of the majority of those who attended the CNMI leaders’ meeting on Thursday last week with the Military Integration Management Committee.
Tinian Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz, who attended the meeting, strongly recommended the island. Rota Mayor Melchor A. Mendiola also believed that Tinian cold be the ideal location because its airport runway is long enough for military use.
Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, was not in the meeting but also expressed his strong support for Tinian.
Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan, in an email, said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial agrees that Tinian would be the ideal location for the following reasons:
• Its airport is 1.5 miles from the closest residential development, thereby eliminating any noise pollution.
• The Tinian port has a deep water harbor, is close to the airport and is underutilized.
• The development of Tinian will enhance other activities related to the military buildup such as the proposed firing range.
• Existing runways can easily be expanded at the current Tinian airport.
• All land in question is already public land, thereby making their acquisition uncomplicated.
• Over 95 percent of the people living on Tinian welcome this initiative and will be extremely supportive.
Military Integration Management Committee coordinator Tom Linden, however, made it clear that the USAF is only looking at Federal Aviation Administration-certified airports.
There will be an Environmental Impact Study, Demapan said, and its goal is to ensure that a divert field or alternative location to Guam’s Anderson Air Force Base exists and can support an emergency divert requirement, military training and exercises, and humanitarian relief operations within reasonable distance to Anderson Air Force Base and the Philippine Sea.
The results of the study should be available by Nov. 2012, followed by the record of decision which is expected to be released by Dec. 2012.
