Guam – (Monday Oct. 28) – The U.S. Navy invites the public to attend public meetings for the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS).
The Navy has prepared the Draft EIS/OEIS to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with military readiness training and testing activities conducted within the MITT Study Area.
The Navy requests and welcomes public comments on the MITT Draft EIS/OEIS.
Submit comments online by visiting the project website at www.MITT-EIS.com where you can VIEW and download the Draft EIS/OEIS HERE.
Due to the U.S. Federal Government shutdown, the public meetings were rescheduled to the dates listed below and the comment period extended to Dec. 12, 2013, Chamorro Standard Time (ChST).
OPEN HOUSE PUBLIC MEETINGS:
Four open house public meetings will be held to inform the public about the Navy’s Proposed Action and alternatives under consideration, and to obtain comments on the Draft EIS/OEIS. Each of the public meetings will include an open house information session and an opportunity to provide comments. Military representatives will be available to discuss the Proposed Action and the Draft EIS/OEIS.
The public meetings will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the following locations:
GUAM
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013
Location: University of Guam
Leon Guerrero School of Business and Public Administration Building
Anthony Leon Guerrero Multi-Purpose Room 129
Mangilao, Guam 96923
SAIPAN
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013
Location: Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe
Saipan, MP 96950
TINIAN
Date: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013
Location: Tinian High School, Cafeteria
San Jose Village
Tinian, MP 96952
ROTA
Date: Friday, Nov. 15, 2013
Location: Sinapalo Elementary School, Cafeteria
Sinapalo I
Rota, MP 96951
Availability OF DRAFT EIS/OEIS AND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD:
The Navy is seeking public input on the Proposed Action and alternatives, and the accuracy and adequacy of the Draft EIS/OEIS. The Draft EIS/OEIS is available for public review online at www.MITT-EIS.com and at the following locations:
GUAM
University of Guam
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Library
Government Documents Room
(671) 735-2315
Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library
(671) 475-4753
SAIPAN
Joeten-Kiyu Public Library
(670) 235-7322
TINIAN
Tinian Public Library
(670) 433-0504
ROTA
Rota Public Library
(670) 532-9451
The Navy is accepting comments throughout the extended public comment period, from Sept. 13, 2013 to Dec. 12, 2013. All comments must be postmarked or received online by Dec. 12, 2013 (ChST), for consideration in the Final EIS/OEIS. Written comments may be submitted via the project website at www.MITT-EIS.com, in person at the public meetings or by mail to:
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific
Attention: MITT EIS/OEIS Project Manager
258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100
Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134
PROPOSED ACTION:
The Navy proposes to continue to conduct training and testing activities, which may include the use of active sonar and explosives, primarily in established operating and military warning areas of the MITT Study Area. The Proposed Action also includes pierside sonar maintenance and testing alongside Navy piers located in Inner Apra Harbor, and land-based training activities at existing ranges and other training locations on Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The MITT EIS/OEIS is the reevaluation and reauthorization of training and testing activities reviewed in the Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS/OEIS, which the Navy completed with community input in 2010.
The Proposed Action would ensure the Navy and other military services accomplish their mission to maintain, train and equip combat-ready military forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. This mission is achieved in part by training and testing within the MITT Study Area.
