NMDs speak out against planned use of Pagan - Saipan Tribune

Posted - May 23, 2013 - Saipan Tribune

Editor's Note (Saipan Tribune): The following is NMDC Resolution 2013 -01 that was recently adopted by the Northern Marianas Descent Corp., a non-profit chartered corporation, to oppose the U.S. military's planned use of Pagan in the Northern Islands.

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Furthermore, it mentioned that: Special use of airspace will be needed over any island proposed for RTAs and MARFORPAC (Marine Corps Forces, Pacific) as executive agent, will seek designation of such airspace in coordination with FAA once a Record Decision has been completed for the EIS/OEIS (Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environment Impact Statement). In addition, maritime danger zones may be required along the coastlines adjacent to DoD-controlled property; and

Whereas, it is understood that the scoping meetings held on Sa'ipan and Tini'an (Rota not included) is to seek public comments on the proposed scope and content of the EIS/OEIS as regard to potential environmental impact, which is not limited to: noise, cultural resources, transportation, utility, socioeconomic, biological resources, geology and soil, water quality, air quality, airspace, land use, recreation, safety, hazardous materials and waste, visual resources, and environmental justice. With the limited information of the proposed U.S. military exercises on Pagan, and the experiences that the Chamorro and Carolinian people had been subjected to live with under the U.S. military rule on Sa'ipan, and the U.S. military's deliberately covert and strategically secretive operations, we strongly and unambiguously believe the U.S. military's proposal for continuous and uninterrupted trainings for U.S. forces and U.S. allies and combined-level training of the entire Island of Pagan for U.S. military activities for air warfare, amphibious warfare, surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, mine warfare, strike warfare, electronic warfare, naval special warfare, etc. will severely limit, preempt, and/or impede any likely possibility and feasibility of former indigenous Northern Marianas descent residents and others of fulfilling their lifelong aspirations and desires to relocate and resettle and reside on the islands north of Sa'ipan, thus adversely impacting and irreparably devastating the economic, social, health, and welfare of our people, and our fragile environment-land, sea, and air, which we expect to last indefinitely beyond our lifetime; and

Whereas, in view of the proposed use for U.S. military exercises on Pagan, which was briefly cited and mentioned in the notice above, and the complexity of such proposal, the time allowed for such scoping on Saipan and Tinian and for the review process is too short and limited for the Chamorro and Carolinian persons to comprehend such proposal; therefore, MARFORPAC should consider allowing for more time for public input/comment in the evaluation process on the environmental impact; and to conduct informative public forum allowing for face-to-face question-and-answer sessions on such proposed U.S. military training exercise activities on Pagan; and

Whereas, it is understood that the proposed U.S. military development and exercise is for the U.S. military to comply with the mandate of the U.S Constitution in defending the United States from all enemies, etc., and to comply with Title 10 of the U.S.C. for combat readiness to win wars, etc; hence, the military should take into serious consideration and respect the intent of Section 104 of Article l of the Covenant, which applies only to matters relating to foreign affairs and defense which affects the Northern Mariana Islands; and

Whereas, the proposed U.S. military development and exercises on Pagan will place the entire island, including sea, and airspace under military control. Danger zones will be mapped out for the safety of all traveling within the area. Traveling to and from any of the islands north of Saipan by boat or airplane will be very restrictive. It will essentially prohibit any development which promotes economic growth and recovery for the CNMI and more importantly the planned resettlement of Pagan by former residents and other people who have expressed interest to reside on Pagan. And, even if the resettlement of Pagan is allowed by the U.S. military, the people of Pagan will be confined to an area not used by the U.S. military. The extent and intensity of the proposed and preferred alternative military training, such military activities will unmistakably and most certainly destroy wildlife and habitats of the endangered species of birds, coconut crabs, fruit bats, and other animals and possibly drive them to extinction, all of which are our indigenous Northern Marianas descents' traditional sustenance since time immemorial to date; and

Whereas, the proposed U.S. military development and exercises on Pagan clearly undermines and violates the provisions of Article l, Section 105, and Article Vlll, Sections 805 and 806 of the Covenant, therefore, the U.S. military should steadfastly take into serious consideration and unequivocally, unmistakably, unambiguously, and unwaveringly respect and honor the intent and spirit of said Articles and Sections of the Covenant as mutually agreed to by the U.S. government and the NMI government; and

Whereas, an integral and requisite element of the public scoping process for any proposed impacts of and by the U.S. military's actions is unconditional compliance to the Section 106 Process of the National Historic & Preservations Act and for which NMDC hereby officially requests to become a consulting party hereon forward. Strict adherence to Section 106 process means the U.S. military must unequivocally comply to prevent potential adverse effects on historic properties such as archaeological sites, historic buildings and structures, and traditional cultural properties considered sacred to the heritage and traditions of indigenous Chamorros and Carolinians in order to mitigate adverse effects when any undertaking may alter characteristics that qualify historical properties for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, cultural resources such as archaeological sites, pre-contact sites, historic sites, etc. in particular the geographic extent to which the proposed actions may have direct and/or indirect effects on historic and cultural resources and properties.

Now, therefore, in view of the information cited in the Federal Register/Vol. 78, No. 50/Thursday, March 14, 2013/Notices 16257, the proposed U.S. military development and exercises intent on the entire island of Pagan with full spectrum of weapons and joint training activities, and if enforced, will irreparably impact and devastate the fragile environmental, historic, cultural, and human resources not only of our ancestral homeland of Pagan, but of our ancestral homeland of the entire Northern Mariana Islands archipelago. In addition, the Northern Marianas Descent Corp. believe that such proposed U.S. military training and exercises on Pagan do not take into serious consideration respecting the intent and spirit of said articles and sections of the Covenant. Therefore, the officers and members of Northern Marianas Descent Corp., for and on behalf of the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian people of Northern Marianas descent, unequivocally oppose and unanimously disapprove the proposed U.S. military development and tactical exercise activities on our culturally, historically, and environmentally rich, serene, and irreplaceable ancestral homeland island of Pagan unlike any other on Earth.

The Northern Marianas Descent Corp., on May 10, 2013, unanimously approved and adopted this resolution.

The Northern Marianas Descent Corp. is represented by Ana S. Teregeyo as president, Karl T. Reyes as vice president, Daniel O. Quitugua­ as secretary, and Rose T. Ada-Hocog as treasurer.

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