“The proposed mitigation measures,” he said, “remain unclear and undefined in terms of which government entity, federal or state, will be responsible for carrying out these actions.”
In his comments submitted to the Military Integration Management Committee, Flores said the mitigation costs associated with addressing the environmental impact on Tinian are not provided.
“This is a grave concern in that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands neither has the capacity or the financial means to ease the environmental and socioeconomic impacts brought forth by the planned military exercise on the island of Tinian,” he added.
He cited the draft environmental impact statement which claimed that the impact on commercial and recreational fishermen, divers, and boaters is short-term in nature and would produce some temporary access limitation.
“What measurement tool was used to make this determination?” Flores asked. “What type of survey, if any, was conducted to conclude that the financial hardships that will be experienced by fishermen as a result of the temporary access limitations will yield a minimal impact?”
In an e-mail to Variety, Tom Linden, CNMI Military Integration Management Committee coordinator, said the concerns of Flores will be incorporated into the final report that will be submitted to the Joint Guam Program Office.
Flores said a lot of local people rely on farming and fishing for supplemental income and subsistence.
“I don’t think that advance public notifications announcing the temporary closure of these affected areas would suffice in terms of making up for the economic losses incurred by the fishermen,” he said.
Tourism would also be affected due to closure of some premium diving spots, he added.
Flores likewise said the restriction in the use of Tinian’s airspace will hinder the island’s plan to expand its airport to allow direct international flights.
“This action may further exacerbate the island’s local economy amid poor tourist arrivals,” he said.
He believes the Department of Defense should provide Tinian with monetary compensation.
