Get Involved

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The U.S. Military has been training in the Mariana Islands Range Complex for national defense purposes for decades. In line with range complex -wide management practices, the U.S. Navy is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) to comprehensively evaluate the effects of current and future U.S. Military activities within the range complex on the environment.

Why is the Navy conducting an Environmental Impact Statement?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires Federal agencies to examine the individual and cumulative environmental effects of their activities. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a detailed public document that provides an assessment of the potential effects a Federal action might have on the environment. An Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) is being prepared to comply with Executive Order 12114, Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions, signed by President Carter in 1979. This order requires Federal agencies to consider the effects of actions that may affect the environment outside U.S. territorial waters.

 

 

The U.S. Military air, land, and sea ranges on Guam and the Mariana Islands provide military personnel with the space and equipment needed to conduct realistic training, which is essential for the safety and readiness of military personnel and the success of the military mission.

The Navy is preparing the Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS/OEIS to plan for the future and to assess the effects of the U.S. Military and the Navy’s ongoing and anticipated operations on the environment. The Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS/OEIS also gives the U.S. Military and the Navy the opportunity to review its procedures and ensure that the benefits of recent scientific and technological advances are applied toward minimizing environmental effects.

How can the community be involved in the development of this document?

The NEPA process emphasizes the importance of community involvement during the development of an EIS/OEIS. The U.S. Military will hold  three scoping meetings to inform the public of the proposed action and to solicit public comment regarding potential environmental effects. At each scoping meeting, informational poster stations and project team representatives will be available to provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about the NEPA process, the proposed action, and the military’s environmental stewardship programs and protective conservation measures. Government agencies, organizations, and the public are encouraged to submit comments at the scoping meetings or to provide written comments throughout the public comment period. The Navy will carefully consider each of the comments received and address them in the Draft EIS/OEIS.

When and where are the scoping meetings being held?

To encourage public input, the Navy is holding scoping meetings for the Mariana Islands Range Complex EIS/OEIS at three locations in the region.

In June, the Navy held three scoping meetings in Guam, Saipan, and Tinian, to inform the public of the proposed action and to solicit public comment. At each scoping meeting, informational poster stations and Navy project team representatives were available to provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about the NEPA process, the proposed action, and the Navy’s environmental stewardship programs and protective conservation measures. Government agencies, organizations, and the public were encouraged to submit comments at the scoping meetings or to provide written comments throughout the public comment period. The scoping comment period ended on July 16, 2007. The Navy will carefully consider each of the comments received and address them in the Draft EIS/OEIS.

Look for new opportunities to participate and comment during review of the Draft EIS in early 2009.

Comments Received from Scoping Meetings

Comments received from Federal agencies

Comments received from State agencies

Comments received from General public