thedrifter
04-05-07, 07:12 PM
Marines scoping meetings moved
By Mark-Alexander Pieper
Pacific Daily News
mpieper@guampdn.com
In a little more than a week, residents will have their chance to express their feelings on the impending Marine relocation from Okinawa to Guam.
The public scoping meeting aimed at getting the community's feedback has been rescheduled for April 17 and 18, according to a Navy press release issued yesterday.
Capt. Robert Lee, acting director of the Joint Guam Program Office-Forward, in the press release, said the Guam scoping meetings will be held April 17 at the Yona Community Center and April 18 at the Dededo Senior Citizens Center.
The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands scoping meetings will be held April 19 at the Saipan Multi-Purpose Center and another on April 20 in Tinian at the Tinian Elementary School.
The scoping meetings -- a military term to identify the process for identifying issues that need to be addressed in the environmental impact study -- are scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m., however, Lee said military officials will remain as long as people are seeking information and wish to offer their comments.
The meetings on Guam and the CNMI originally were scheduled to take place earlier in the week but the threat of Typhoon Kong-Rey caused the Department of Defense and the regional governments to change their plans.
The deadline for written comments also has been extended to May 21. Written comments may be offered on site or by mail. On-site persons may dictate to a typist who is bi-lingual in Chamorro and English, the release stated.
Gov. Felix Camacho said yesterday he was pleased that the rescheduled meetings will be in the villages as opposed to a hotel. The governor a few weeks ago wrote to retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Bice, the Joint Guam Program Office director, requesting that more scoping meetings be held in addition to the one originally scheduled for last Tuesday.
The governor also asked that the meetings take place in the villages so more residents have a chance to raise their concerns.
"We're very pleased Maj. Gen. Bice decided to extend the scoping meetings beyond Holy Week -- the Joint Guam Program Office understands this is an important time for Guam's families to be together," Camacho said.
"Maj. Gen. Bice's decision gives our people more opportunities to participate in these meetings. The fact that these meetings also will be held in public village centers demonstrates the federal government's commitment to involving the people of Guam in this process."
At the scoping meeting, Defense department agents will be available to answer questions about the relocation plan.
Roy TsuTsui, a COMNAVMAR representative, has said all concerns raised during the scoping meeting will be noted and responded to in the assessment when it is released.
Lee has said that could take anywhere from one to two years. Once the final impact statement is published along with the decision, the military expansion work then would begin.
Camacho said residents should make their voices heard.
"I encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to be involved," the governor said.
Ellie
By Mark-Alexander Pieper
Pacific Daily News
mpieper@guampdn.com
In a little more than a week, residents will have their chance to express their feelings on the impending Marine relocation from Okinawa to Guam.
The public scoping meeting aimed at getting the community's feedback has been rescheduled for April 17 and 18, according to a Navy press release issued yesterday.
Capt. Robert Lee, acting director of the Joint Guam Program Office-Forward, in the press release, said the Guam scoping meetings will be held April 17 at the Yona Community Center and April 18 at the Dededo Senior Citizens Center.
The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands scoping meetings will be held April 19 at the Saipan Multi-Purpose Center and another on April 20 in Tinian at the Tinian Elementary School.
The scoping meetings -- a military term to identify the process for identifying issues that need to be addressed in the environmental impact study -- are scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m., however, Lee said military officials will remain as long as people are seeking information and wish to offer their comments.
The meetings on Guam and the CNMI originally were scheduled to take place earlier in the week but the threat of Typhoon Kong-Rey caused the Department of Defense and the regional governments to change their plans.
The deadline for written comments also has been extended to May 21. Written comments may be offered on site or by mail. On-site persons may dictate to a typist who is bi-lingual in Chamorro and English, the release stated.
Gov. Felix Camacho said yesterday he was pleased that the rescheduled meetings will be in the villages as opposed to a hotel. The governor a few weeks ago wrote to retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Bice, the Joint Guam Program Office director, requesting that more scoping meetings be held in addition to the one originally scheduled for last Tuesday.
The governor also asked that the meetings take place in the villages so more residents have a chance to raise their concerns.
"We're very pleased Maj. Gen. Bice decided to extend the scoping meetings beyond Holy Week -- the Joint Guam Program Office understands this is an important time for Guam's families to be together," Camacho said.
"Maj. Gen. Bice's decision gives our people more opportunities to participate in these meetings. The fact that these meetings also will be held in public village centers demonstrates the federal government's commitment to involving the people of Guam in this process."
At the scoping meeting, Defense department agents will be available to answer questions about the relocation plan.
Roy TsuTsui, a COMNAVMAR representative, has said all concerns raised during the scoping meeting will be noted and responded to in the assessment when it is released.
Lee has said that could take anywhere from one to two years. Once the final impact statement is published along with the decision, the military expansion work then would begin.
Camacho said residents should make their voices heard.
"I encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to be involved," the governor said.
Ellie