August 31, 2010
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A report by experts on relocating the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa includes 2 options for runway construction off US Camp Schwab on the same island.
On Tuesday, Japanese and US officials disclosed the contents of the report on moving functions of Futenma to the area off Camp Schwab in Nago city.
The report proposes building two runways in a V-shaped formation or a single runway as recently requested by Japan.The report says both ideas meet safety standards, but that building only 1 runway would require aircraft to fly near mountains, possibly interfering with the planes' instruments.
It says 1 runway would require 40 hectares less in reclaimed land and would thus have a smaller effect on marine life.
Construction work for 1 runway would take 6 months less than building twin runways but would require new designs and further environmental assessments, making the single-runway process 9 months longer.
The report did not refer to changes in helicopter flight routes as requested by the US, and the two sides are expected to continue discussions on this issue.
Japan's Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa told reporters that both proposals have pros and cons that he hopes to discuss with local people. Kitazawa said he hopes to consider a new framework between the two countries so that the new facility can be used jointly by the US military and Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters that the report is based only on technical aspects, and that the government will officially decide on a proposal after factoring in political judgments.
Okada said what's important is gaining the understanding of the people of Okinawa, and that progress on the issue is impossible if a decision is reached without such understanding.
He added solid efforts and communication with Okinawa are necessary.
2010/08/31 17:02(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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