UPON the advise of its legal experts, the CNMI will no longer join the Air Force and the Navy in appealing the U.S. District Court decision that ordered an end to the live fire exercises on Farallon de Mendinilla.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta said the CNMI will take a “different approach,” but will still assist the military as it files its appeal.
“(W)e were advised that we take the approach of supporting the efforts of the military in filing a relief,” Babauta said.
“So that is what I am doing (now),” the governor added.
The federal court in Washington, D.C. has set an April 20 hearing to discuss the solution to the military’s violation of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Babauta met last month with Maj. Gen. Theodore W. Lay II, commander of the 13th Air Force, to discuss the court ruling.
During the meeting, Maj. Gen. Lay told the governor that the ruling will have a “major impact” on the military’s presence in the region.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce said the CNMI also benefits economically from this military presence.
