DEIS Perspective : The math of reading DEIS
Wednesday, 03 February 2010 01:16 DEIS Perspective: by Simeon Manibusan Palomo
I DO NOT believe that the 45-day commenting period required by 40 CFR § 1506.10(c), or the 90-day period to review and comment on the draft environmental impact statement, is reasonable considering the magnitude of the document itself and the possible impact on the residents of Guam. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Buried surprises
Wednesday, 03 February 2010 01:10 DEIS Perspective: by David Lotz
THE draft environmental impact statement contains several interesting statements that, by themselves, would generate a completely separate environmental impact statement.
Consider the following:
There is a short section in the executive summary referring to an additional need for Marine Air-Ground Task Force training and its potential location the CNMI. It is simply explained away with a note that it will be reviewed in a future. However, National Environmental Policy Act requires environmental impact statements to review all foreseeable related actions, which is clearly the case here. If not considered in this review then, it is a segmented action, which is contrary to federal law. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Doomed programs
Wednesday, 03 February 2010 01:13 DEIS Perspective: by Dr. Anne Perez Hattori
THE draft environmental impact statement essentially spells doom for all Chamorro programs, including those dedicated to perpetuating the language and culture.
The quotation below is a direct excerpt from the draft study and it has some very troubling implications for the Chamorros of Guam. Yet this information does not seem to be out there in the general public. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Environmental destruction
Tuesday, 02 February 2010 00:09 DEIS Perspective: By Brian Schaible
OUR island agencies are now working faithfully at full capacity to preserve our environment at Guam’s current rate of sustainable development. The rapid-fire development of the U.S. military buildup is certain to overwhelm these efforts and cause a permanent reduction in the quality of our life and environment. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Paved with Good Intentions
Thursday, 28 January 2010 04:17 DEIS Perspective: by Leevin Taitano Camacho
ROAD improvements are another rallying point of people who argue that the buildup will be beneficial to all of us. Because many of Guam’s roads are structurally unable to handle the heavy truck loads needed for the construction of projects associated with the buildup, the military plans on “improving” them.
I use quotation marks because “improvement” suggests that our roads will be “better.” A review of the draft environmental impact statement shows that, although roads will technically be better, driving conditions on Guam’s roads will be worse. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Meeting halfway
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 05:07 DEIS Perspective : by Carmen Belinda Costello
I am German–Irish-American, my mother is German and became an American citizen and my father was an Irish – American (who served his entire adult life in the military).
As an American who is also German and Irish it saddens me to think that I live in such a jaded period of time that we would forfeit the beauty of this island and remnants of a culture that has already been torn piece by piece since the 1500s without doing everything within our power to find solutions that will ensure there be no more destruction of the natural resources as well as safeguarding and honoring the cultural and spiritual traditions of Guahan’s indigenous peoples. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : History repeating itself
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 05:10 DEIS Perspective : by Manny Cruz
THIS is a message to all the naysayers, all the newly-found Chamorro activists, and all those who are openly opposed to the draft environmental impact statement process and the military buildup.
As you continue to find ways to justify your opposition to the process and the military buildup, please consider the following historical perspectives: On July 21, 1944, Guam was liberated from the oppressive Imperial Japanese Armed Forces with the blood of over 7,800 U.S. Marines, Army, and Navy personnel, who were killed or wounded during the conflict on Guam. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Local nationals?!
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 04:50 DEIS Perspective : by Alison Rae Taimanglo Cuasay
I AM a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am also Chamorro and Guam is my home.
The following personal experiences demonstrate the attitudes of U.S. military commands toward the People of Guam:
During R&R at home from a deployment, I went to Andersen Air Force Base to get some supplies at the exchange in preparation for my return to Iraq. At the gate pass office, I was baffled by the difficulty to get on base. When I was stationed in Korea, it was easier for Russian expatriates without a passport to get onto a U.S. military installation. When I asked the airman why it was so difficult to get on base, she dismissively informed me, “local national population is always trying to raid our commissary.” continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Counterproposals would be appreciated
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 04:51 DEIS Perspective : by Crystal Borja
THE military buildup up is of great interest to all of us. It is good that there are issues we truly get focused on. We have had issues with all kinds of problems over the years but they seem to appear in a newspaper or the nightly news and are soon forgotten. We complain about all the increases in our cost of living such as utilities, government increases in fees for a car for instance, and now we see our trash fees are going to almost double, but we really do not demand any resolution. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Put taimanu inafekta i kutturan Chamorro nu i buildup
Monday, 25 January 2010 01:03 DEIS Perspective: by Michael Lujan Bevacqua
Meggai na taotao siha guini giya Guahan manchathinasso put i mamaimaila na “buildup” guini gi tano’-ta. 80,000 mas na prohemos u fanggaige guini gi 2014. Guaha manma’å’ñao na siempre manmana’takpappa’ i Manchamorro. Gaige gi hinasso-ta na ti åpmam malingu i raså-ta, sa’ esta kalang “endangered species” hit. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Done Deal?
Monday, 25 January 2010 01:00 DEIS Perspective : by Matt Phillips
FOLKS may say not-so-pleasant things about the military buildup or state actionable material that the federal government could use to mitigate the negative effects of the boost in military activity, but in the end, it would make little to no difference in the overall scheme of things. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : What lies ahead are D.C.'s 'pompous' lies
Monday, 25 January 2010 01:04 DEIS Perspective : by Tony Artero
(This is in response to Derick Hills,’ “DEIS Perspective: What lies ahead,” published in this section on Jan. 21.)
THIS draft environmental impact statement for the military buildup is with major misgivings. It is following the historic wrong “politically correct” practices and, like the mafia, it must be stop. Without changing our direction, fixing the problems, and doing everything right here on out will not be any different from the first buildup in the 1940s after World War II that left us in this dire state. continued ...
DEIS perspectives: It's a Catch-22
Tuesday, 19 January 2010 05:40 DEIS Perspective : by Leevin Taitano Camacho
THE public hearings have come to an end and most people agree that Guam will see an increase in economic activity as a result of the buildup. Some have taken it further and suggested that the additional tax revenues GovGuam is expected to receive will improve GovGuam services and the standard of living for most of us. They reason that GovGuam will be able to fix the Guam Department of Education, Guam Memorial Hospital and other public agencies with the additional $327 million collected in taxes in 2014 and $96 million collected in 2017 and onward. This logic, however, is oversimplified because it fails to take into account any costs associated with the anticipated population explosion. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : What lies ahead
Thursday, 21 January 2010 04:25 DEIS Perspective : by Derick Hills
GUAM is in the process of positioning itself for a period of growth and development, fueled by tourism and military expansion. Guam’s geographic location offers strategic opportunities for both American businesses wanting to do business in Asia, and Asian businesses looking for opportunities in America. This is a beginning of opportunity rather than loss for the people of Guam. It is a mere case of misunderstanding of the nature of this process, the Marine relocation, the building of an Army ballistic missile defense base, and increase in Air Force and Navy personnel. continued ...
DEIS Perspective : Omitted details
Friday, 22 January 2010 00:33 DEIS Perspective : By Desiree Taimanglo Ventura
WHEN studying the draft environmental impact statement, one should pay close attention to relevant information that, for some reason or another, was excluded from the document. Submitting formal comments that identify what is not addressed and highlighting the importance of including the information will provide valuable feedback that may improve preferred alternatives and mitigation efforts within the final draft. Because some of the people recruited to write the draft report may not be aware of a particular aspect of an impacted area or its history. What they find important may not coincide with the priorities of all residents. continued ...
DEIS Perspective :: Buildup jobs?
Wednesday, 20 January 2010 02:47 DEIS Perspective : by Dave Lotz
OBTAINING meaningful well-paying, permanent jobs remains one of the primary arguments in favor of the proposed military buildup. Unfortunately, there are significant obstacles that prevent Guam’s residents from easily acquiring the type of sustainable employment so many have begun to anticipate. continued ...
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