Virginia senator addresses Guam buildup

Posted: Feb 19, 2010 9:27 PM
Updated: Feb 19, 2010 9:27 PM

by Heather Hauswirth

Guam - The Democratic senator from Virginia, Jim Webb, has completed his listening tour on Guam. After meeting with Government of Guam officials, members of the business community, and surveying the island Webb held a press conference this evening at the Hilton Hotel to discuss his conclusions and the message he intends to bring back with him to Washington, DC. Joint Guam Program Office Executive Director David Bice and Director John Jackson were also in attendance.

During the senator's press conference Webb addressed a number of concerns, starting with the issue of funding. The senator said he intends to call on the Appropriations Committee to increase funding for civilian infrastructure appropriations and said he has had his staff back in Washington get in touch with White House officials already about using money that has not yet been obligated.

Having visited Tinian today, Senator Webb said he supports firing ranges on that island as well as looking at other ways it can be utilized in the military buildup so as to reduce the overall footprint on Guam. He cited environmental concerns and said he thinks that the timeline for the build up overall needs to be examined realistically taking into consideration his conversations and meetings with GovGuam officials, members of the business community and island leaders while on his fact-finding tour of the island.

Referencing conversations that he has had with government officials in Japan he reiterated that the Japanese governments views about the U.S./Japan alliance is no different than it has been in previous years and said that he believes closing a number of bases and reducing the presence of U.S. Marines from 20,000 to 10,000 will be a good thing and fit with the alliance.

Veteran advocate Tom Devlin asked how the senator intends to lobby for funding for veterans needs and facilities citing that the organic growth as well as buildup growth will undoubtedly impact veteran entities and facilities on island. The senator, himself a Vietnam veteran having served with the 5th Marine Regiment, cited his continuous support for veterans and noted that he pushed through the post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which he maintains will continue to prove its success over the next twenty years.

The senator also said he intends to lobby to make sure that the Port Authority of Guam receives the financial support it will need to perform the vital tasks and operations it will be involved in as the buildup gets underway and moving forward.

As a former consultant to the governor of Guam in the 1970's, Senator Webb said he is no stranger to the issue of political status and reiterated that he would be open to and supportive of examining Guam's political status noting the deep connection many Guamanians have to the mainland United States.

The question was asked whether or not the timeline for the record of decision's signing might be extended to which Senator Webb did not provide a clear answer but did reiterate that there must be open and frank discussions about the timeline

Camacho asks feds to delay military buildup

Posted: Jan 29, 2010 5:14 PM
Updated: Jan 29, 2010 6:53 PM

by Heather Hauswirth

Guam - Governor Felix Camacho is asking the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, to delay the 2014 timeline for the military buildup. The island's chief executive made his announcement to members at the Guam Visitors Bureau during their meeting this afternoon.

Asked if a sense of urgency exists behind his request for additional time, and if so, why now, Governor Camacho told KUAM News, "A sense of urgency? That term more applies to the military and their request to build in a really confined timeline of 2014."

Is four years really enough time for the island to accommodate an influx in population of upwards of 80,000 people? If the marine relocation of 8,000 U.S. Marines and their dependents from Okinawa, Japan to Guam takes place by the 2014 timeframe agreed upon by the governments of Japan and the United States, Camacho says the island won't be ready for it. In a letter to secretary of the Mabus he asks for an extension to lessen the impact of the build up on every area of public concern.

"Unless the resources are given to the territories the impacts to us are extreme," he said. "And there is no funding to mitigate it that is being provided to the people of Guam. An extension beyond 2014 is reasonable and fair and will allow us to better manage this buildup."

The governor addressed a packed room of island leaders and business community members at the Guam Visitors Bureau's quarterly membership meeting this afternoon. Deputy Director of GVB Ernie Galito says from a tourism perspective he agrees with the governor's request for more time to work out the kinks. "In our comments for the DEIS there are certain things from a tourism perspective we want assurances on that some of our cultural sites will be protected, that there will not be a hallowing out of our service employees who work in the hotel industry," he said.

Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz says it's not enough - he continues to advocate for additional time to review the 11,000-page monster Draft Environmental Impact Statement on how the buildup will affect the island. "His extension is rather than have the buildup start and finish by 2014 have the build up finish in 2018 or 2020; and that might make it more tolerable but the thing is we still need more time to review the DEIS."

The Mayors Council president, Melissa Savares, explained that she agrees more time is essential because most people are just now starting to read the DEIS and attend the public hearings. "We are also asking for additional time as mayors. Many of our residents are still reviewing the DEIS and there are a lot more hearings that are happening and more people are coming out and realizing this is really going to concern their neighborhoods," she said.

The governor hammered home his case for an extension by emphasizing that the resources that will be impacted and importance of planning cannot be understated nor underfunded as there is just too much at stake. "What's more responsible for me and of greater impact is looking at the completion date and recognizing and pointing out to both nations this is unobtainable, unrealistic, do something about it," he said.

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Governor asks for more time

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First buildup hearing held in South

Posted: Jan 08, 2010 12:10 AM
Updated: Jan 08, 2010 12:10 AM
by Nick Delgado

GUAM - The first public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement was held Thursday evening at Southern High School in Santa Rita. Approximately 319 island residents participated, some to listen to proposed plans, while others provided comment on the marine relocation from Okinawa to Guam.

Joint Guam Program Office Chief of Staff colonel Paul Pohn presented the military's proposed actions for the buildup. Those proposals include developing and constructing facilities and infrastructure to support approximately 8,600 marines and their 9,000 dependants, a new deep-draft wharf and turning basin along with shore side infrastructure improvements to be constructed at Apra Harbor to support U.S. Navy transient nuclear aircraft carriers, and finally develop facilities and infrastructure to support relocating 600 military personnel and their 900 dependants to establish and operate an army air and missile defense task force.

Residents were informed that the hearing would only allow for them to submit comments, and not debate their concerns with military officials. While the population increase is dependant upon the funding available to begin the buildup, Pohn says the military's goal is to use as much DOD land as possible, as he says it's still too soon to determine what land is needed at this time.

Al San Agustin with the Chamoru tribe expressed how the military buildup would not be a good thing for the people of Guam, as it will negatively impact the future generations. Tribal chairman Frank Schacher says he has been carefully studying the draft EIS Schacher claims there is not one bit of information that shares the impacts of the Chamorro people. He adds that the DEIS Consists more of the questions that the military wants answered rather than what the people of Guam want.

Chamber of Commerce President David Leddy meanwhile expressed why the island needs the military's presence to help better Guam's economy.

Concerned resident Kenneth Leon guerrero shared his frustration with the lack of public safety information in the DEIS. Leon Guerrero questioned the lack of statistics that show the crime rate that the marines have committed off base in Okinawa, and how the military plans to mitigate the issue on Guam.

While local veteran Tom Barcinas stated that Guam and America need each other, he also said it is very sad to think that the Chamorro people will become the minority. Barcinas says the impact will compromise the island's culture, value, and language, which he says is a very high price to pay.

Resident Angel Santos questioned why Guam is the only place being selected over the other areas in the region. He fears that Guam will be more of an easy target with the increase in military.

Former Chamoru nations maga'haga Trini Torres says that it is not a done deal as she is determined to continue the fight to prevent the marine relocation. Torres expressed major frustration encouraging others to do the same.

Piti Mayor Ben Gumataotao however stated that the military is not coming to bring war to the island, but to help the economy and defend the island for everyone living on it.

Residents were also given a summary explanation of the DEIS. At each station during the open house period. JGPO officials say all comments will now be included in volume 10 of the DEIS.

Residents have another opportunity to provide oral comment this Saturday at the University of Guam Field House in Mangilao. The public also has until February 17th to comment on the DEIS by logging onto www.guambuildupeis.us
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YouNex greenlit to build $200M facility

Posted: Dec 27, 2009 4:36 PM
Updated: Dec 27, 2009 6:16 PM

by Michele Catahay

Guam - YouNex Enterprises Corporation recently signed a contract to design, build and assist with the operations and management of an 18,000-bed workforce village. The project is expected to house foreign workers during the construction phase of the military buildup on Guam.

A signing ceremony was held in Seoul, Korea last week by STX Group and YouNex to pave the way for construction for a new facility to house foreign workers for the military buildup. The contract is valued at approximately $200 million to design, build and assist with the operations and management of an 18,0000-bed, fully integrated workforce village to house temporary labor. The project, Ukudu Workforce Village, will be located in the Harmon Annex, bordering the Navy's South Finegayan Family Housing Facility and just north of Two Lovers Point.

The campus will include a medical clinic and fire and security response, transportation for workers to and from worksites and non-work activities, laundry, banking and convenience store services and organized recreational and individual activities to include religious worship facilities.

YouNex Senior Vice President Dave Tydingco said, "We had to go through the land use commission process to rezone the property there, N1, which is a light industrial zone because that was the only zoning that would allow for this type of development. The second phase of planning, which allows for the Land Use Commission to review your site development plan, which was approved on October 29."

Tydingco says the first sector, which will include up to 2000 beds will open up on October 2010. He says depending on the demand of workforce housing, YouNex could construct up to 18,000 beds, if necessary. "We provide a solution that allows for maximum benefits to the customer with the customers being contractors and minimal impact to the community," he continued. "It is isolated and we'll be able to contain and control the foreign workforce population that will be there."

YouNex will not only help with work force housing, but Tydingco says there may be a possibility that his company may help construct residential housing. In fact, he says as part of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, one of the alternatives is to build housing for military personnel in areas near property they own. "We've actually had initial discussions with JGPO about proposing at least 110 acres of the 252 acres we own for residential housing and we are pursuing that with the military and we hope that if they find it a viable solution, we're prepared to move forward, finance and construct and manage that facility for them," Tydingco said.

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18,000-unit workforce village to be built
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Military officials share insight with Guam Contractors Association

By Clynt Ridgell
Published May 20, 2009

If President Obama's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2010 passes as is there will be a lot of money rolling into Guam via military construction projects. Today the Navy's Captain Paul Fuligni and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Mathews of the U.S. Air Force gave a joint presentation of the potential projects to members of the Guam Contractors Association.

$1.1 billion could trickle through Guam's economy in FY2010. That's how much money could be spent on military contracts if the presidents proposed budget for FY2010 is passed as is. So this is how the $1.1 billion broken down: $674 million would go towards the Marines relocation from Okinawa to Guam, $259 million towards the construction of a new Naval Hospital, and $174 million will be spread out amongst other military construction contracts.

Cpt. Fuligni and Lt. Col. Mathews didn't only focus on 2010; they gave an overview of recently-completed projects and currently funded projects both on Navy Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base that have nothing to do with the movement of Marines to Guam. "It is a big business here and its getting bigger I don't know if folks realize this but it's over a half-billion dollars a year that goes into running those two bases right now."

Cpt. Fuligni explained how the combining of Naval Base Guam and AAFB through the Joint Region Command would affect base operations and the various contracts needed to sustain them. "So what does that really mean? The Air Force leadership remains in place. Col. Mathews remains the commander of the military squadron up there; what Col. Mathews though will find come October is his civilians become Navy civilians. A lot of them will become NAVFAC civilians he will be living and working in a building owned by the Navy, on land owned by the Navy, on a base which the bills are paid by the Navy."

This means that all funding for both bases for Fiscal Year 2010 will be funneled through the Navy.

Other ongoing projects include extensions made to the Kilo Wharf in Apra Harbor, the building of a central utility plant at Naval Hospital, and improvements made to extend the life of Andersen's landfill. "That is not to compete with Layon, absolutely not," said Fuligni. "Wwe're not competing with the Dandan landfill. This is simply to expand the current life of the Andersen landfill to get us to the point where we can as the secretary of the navy recently said become a customer of the new Guam landfill."

In addition to the ongoing projects and the projects for 2010 there are still unawarded projects for 2009 that were funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These include projects to improve and expand AAFB's existing runways, taxiways and parking spots as well as improvements to Andersen's water system.

Related links

* VIDEO: Billions to trickle into island's economy

Guam Industry Forum III attended by thousands

By John Davis
Published Apr 28, 2009

A recently issued First Hawaiian Bank Economic Forecast has Guam listed as one place not expected to be hard hit by the economic downturn. The forecast indicates numerous avenues for profit related to the upcoming military buildup. Companies from as far as Switzerland and as close to home as the CNMI are on island to attend Guam Industry Forum III and are eager to take advantage of the military buildup.

Almost 1,400 representatives from companies around the world are attending the third Guam Industry Forum, attempting to gain critical insight in what will be done during the 2010-2014 military buildup. JoeTen Industries out of the CNMI has their corporate hand in every business from real estate, construction material supplies and shipping. Construction Material Supply General Manager, Jesse Sablan says the CNMI based company is looking forward to the economic opportunities available on Guam come time for the buildup.

"If we pull our resources and vector ourselves into an area of the market we are familiar with and also listen to the good, kind advice that people give us," Sablan told KUAM News. "We intend on using that to our advantage and hopefully that will provide some gainful employment for some people who lost their jobs."

Even local companies with home field advantage like Advanced Management Incorporated are looking to forge new relationships with bigger off-island companies because this time around, local companies will have the upper hand. AMI president and CEO Monty McDowell said, "Guam businesses are very much in the know than businesses that have gravitated to Guam before so they're learning from us."

McDowell added, "As we proceed in discussions with them, they see that we have competencies here that can help them, so I think we're going to be good fore each other."

Construction companies and general contractors aren't the only ones wanting to take advantage of the military buildup. According to the economic forecast from FHB, the buildup will be good for Guam's tourism industry, which is already reaping the benefits of events associated with the troop relocation.

Hilton marketing and communications manager Crystal Sablan said, "We've seen an increase as far as travelers coming in from the U.S. mainland side staying with us at the hotel. Hilton is synonymous with hotels back in the U.S. and we've seen an increase in corporate companies heading to Guam to see what's going on with the military buildup."

And as the demand increases for hotels to provide service to people coming in and out of Guam, the demand also increases for airline service providers, something director for Continental Micronesia sales and marketing David Kendell says his company will take advantage of. "From an airline perspective," he said, "We always look for demand and we are wanting to grow, but of course it's all about supply and demand and this military buildup will bring Guam not only the demand, but a lot of opportunities for both the public and private sector and from that you're not only looking at customers flowing into Guam, but also customers flowing out."

GIF 3 continues through Thursday at its trifecta of venues - the Marriott, Hilton and Sheraton hotels.

Related links

• VIDEO: Packed venues at GIF3
• Report cites Guam as having positive economic future
• Guam Industry Forum III

Guam Business Forum III hosts international audience

By Sabrina Salas Matanane
Published Apr 28, 2009

More than a thousand companies from across the globe are on island to learn more about multitude of business opportunities the pending military buildup affords. Today marks day one of the Guam industry forum three, hosted by Joint Guam Program Office and NAVFAC.

The forum being held at multiple venues will is targeted towards general contractors, specialty subcontractors, designers and those who will support the upcoming design-build and design-bid-build projects for the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam. Companies who are participating hail from various locales such as New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Kuwait, Japan, Vietnam, Australia, and Taiwan, to name just a few.

Related links

• Guam Industry Forum

U.S., Japan remain committed to troop transition

By Sabrina Salas Matanane
Published Nov 8, 2008

Despite budget constraints, both the United States and Japan remain committed to moving about 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam. The American Forces Press Service reports that those budget constraints could cause the process to take longer and cost more than initially expected.

During session in New York at the Council on Foreign Relations earlier this week, Navy Admiral Timothy Keating discussed military transformation initiatives and stated, "It'll take a bit long to effect - we won't be done by 2014, or maybe even 2015, but it's a decade in execution."

Related links

• U.S., Japan Committed to Transformation Despite Delays, Admiral Says

GBB announces new Senior Project Manager

by Ronna Sweeney
KUAM News
Saturday, June 21, 2008

The federal receiver appointed to ensure the government of Guam's compliance with the Ordot consent decree has announced that Jack Tucker has joined the firm as Senior Project Manager.

He has over 27 years of experience in various levels of management and administration. A press release states that he will be a key member of the GBB Guam Receivership Project Team with Tucker being quoted saying, "I am very excited to have this opportunity to bring by years of waste management experience to Guam and the GBB Team."

Civilian/Military Task Force presents outlook on troop expansion

by Clynt Ridgell
KUAM News
Friday, January 25, 2008

During the Civilian/Military Task Force's briefing for the 29th Guam Legislature today two major points were made clear: first that Guam needs money for the buildup of troops locally, and secondly that the island simply needs more information on the Pentagon's plans. It was made evident during the presentation that Guam must do its best to obtain the financial assistance necessary to prepare for the dramatic increase in population that will result from the military buildup.

Governor Felix Camacho says this is something he's been working on and something he will continue to push for. "We as a territory need to make our case," the chief executive announced. "We've already missed the opportunity for appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009, we need to target Fiscal Year 2010 if we're going to get any types of appropriations."

To help Guam get the money it needs the Task Force has been working on a needs assessment to be presented to the General Accountability Office (the investigative arm of Congress) that will be her by the 31st of the month. However, to properly produce an accurate needs assessment the Government of Guam needs to know more details about the military's plans, like how many people will end up here, where will they be housed at, and what kind of infrastructure the military will need to support them and their increased facilities.

J. Peter Roberto is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health and Social Services and stated, "One of the things we've worked with the Joint Guam Program Office is we've tried to get information of their statistics of military personnel coming in, so we can factor that in."

And such was a recurring theme of today's presentations overall. More information is needed from the military so that Guam can properly asses its needs and can start making plans of its own. This need for more information was even reflected in a report written by the GAO on Guam's military buildup. All the subcommittees gave basic reports with limited information; one of the most detailed subcommittee reports was given by education chairman David Okada, in which he estimated that Guam will need 6-9 new schools. But even he admits that more information from the Department of Defense is needed.

Senator B.J. Cruz (D) was not satisfied with most of the reports, saying many of them contained more fluff than actual substance. Tony Lamorena advised lawmakers that today's presentations had to be shortened summaries because each subcommittee chair would need at least an hour to report their needs assessments.

Roberto also explained the difficulty in producing more specific presentations without more specific information, saying, "I think the subcommittee agrees...that the questions that we've asked the military for numbers so that we can do a projected plan. We are still not getting the information we want."

In the end it was clear that the CMTF has made a lot of headway in certain areas like establishing communications with various federal agencies but still have a long way to go in getting more information from the DoD.

Mainland judge finds DoD breached environmental act

by Sabrina Salas Matanane
KUAM News
Friday, January 25, 2008

A part of the report prepared by the General Accountability Office included a key paragraph regarding the relocation of United States Marines to Guam and how it is dependent upon what's called the Futenma Replacement Facility. Essentially this facility would relocate a portion of the U.S. air base in Futenma to another location - in this case off the northeastern coast of Okinawa in Henoko Bay. The problem is that the waters are prime habitat for Japan's natural monument: the dugong.

Like the American bald eagle to the United States, dugongs are a national treasure to the people of Japan. Critically endangered and protected under the National Historic Preservation Act, it was the Department of Defense's plans to relocate parts of the air base in Futenma to the northeastern coast of Okinawa that sparked legal action to protect the dugongs in 2003. Over the last several years, several conservation and environmental groups both in Japan and the U.S., like EarthJustice have been fighting the Pentagon for failing to take any consideration the impact the FRF would have on the nearly extinct mammals.

The plans for the FRF would have it constructed in prime habitat for the dugongs by building a 1.5-mile long runway right over seagrass beds where the mammals live. The case can be considered a prime example of what can be done when a community pulls together to effectuate change.

These conservation and environmentalist groups, led by attorneys from EarthJustice, won a major victory in a federal court in California today. Judge Marilyn Hall Patel found, "The current record contains no evidence that a single official from the Department of Defense with responsibility for the Futenma Replacement Facility has conferred or assessed the available information on the dugong or the effects of the FRF."

The judge found the DoD violated the National Historic Preservation Act, under which the dugongs are protected. The NHPA requires agencies of the U.S. Government to consider the impacts on cultural and historic resources in other nations when undertaking activities outside the United States. This is the first time the Act has been applied overseas.

The DoD was ordered to submit within three months documents describing its plans to assess the project's effects on the dugong and develop ways to lessen its impact. The Futenma Replacement Facility as cited by the GAO is a critical component that must be completed or it could delay the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. The estimated cost of the facility is pegged at being about $4-$5 billion.

Commenting on the today's decision, EarthJustice attorney Sarah Burt stated, "With this ruling, Judge Patel has made clear that the Department of Defense has an obligation to take a serious look at the impacts of its actions overseas to avoid causing irrevocable harm to the cultural heritage of another nation." It's something islanders should hold to heart as DoD ramps up efforts to increase military presence here at home.

According to Civilian Military Task Force member Tony Lamorena, it's the reason why a subcommittee has been formed specifically to protect Guam's natural resources. "We feel that for the magnitude for the construction that's going to be happening there are a lot of natural resources that we need to protect be albeit the plants, fauna and flora and so forth and wildlife. We also have to be aware of our historic sites...there are numerous historic sites up north that could be adversely affected with the construction on Guam. It is important to us," said Lamorena.

Squabble could delay Marines' realignment

by Sabrina Salas Matanane
KUAM News
Friday, November 16, 2007

A recent report by The Japan Times seems to indicate there could be a delay in the Marines relocation from Okinawa to Guam. At issue is a disagreement over the construction of a controversial replacement facility at Futenma. Japan Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is heading to Washington, where he will be meeting with U.S. president George W. Bush on the relocation.

The article states, in part, "The realignment agreement is stalled, and doubts on both sides are growing over when, or even if, the Futenma replacement facility will materialize."

Recently U.S. secretary of defense Robert Gates was in Japan, during which time he told reporters that it would be difficult to meet Okinawa's demands. With a deadline of 2014 for the realignment, both sides are hard pressed to come to an agreement of the construction of the new facility. This past September the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a report on the DoD's plans for the realignment and even in that document it expressed the importance of the construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility.

That report stated, "If the Futenma replacement facility in Okinawa is not built, the Marine Corps' relocation to Guam may be delayed. Department of Defense officials view the success of Futenma as a key objective of the initiative that will need to be completed in order for other realignment actions to take place."

Read the article by The Japan Times by clicking here

DOL cites trends with federal programs

by Jason Salas
KUAM News
Tuesday, November 13, 2007

The Guam Department of Labor released a review of federal expenditure trends for Guam in fiscal years 1993 to 2005. The report states total federal expenditures on Guam increased by over 40% from $1 billion in FY1993 to $1.4 billion in FY2005. In 1995, the federal expenditure dropped to just over $800 million and remained in the $800-900 million level until two years ago.

Department of Labor chief economist Gary Hiles says in FY2005 the bulk of federal government expenditures went to procurement contracts with $411.4 million, followed by $376.8 million for grants, $224.2 million for salaries and wages, and $328.5 million for retirement and disability payments. Hiles says although we see a higher dollar amount incoming from the feds, there has been no adjustments made for a higher cost of living.

He told KUAM News, "Since the population is growing it takes more money to create the same welfare effect for the population...even though we have more dollars, if it's adjusted for the higher cost of buying things in real terms, it's not quite as large of an increase."

View the report as compiled by the DOL by clicking here

Camacho attending conference in Saipan

by Clynt Ridgell
KUAM News
Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Guam's chief executive, Governor Felix Camacho, is off-island at the moment, having joined other leaders from around the region in Saipan. Camacho is attending the 8th Western Chief Executives Summit. The focus of the three days meetings is alternative sources of renewable energy sources in Micronesia, and a regional tourism marketing strategy.

Attendees will also receive an update on the military buildup from the Joint Guam Program Office.

Feds want more action towards dump's closure

by Sabrina Salas Matanane
KUAM News
Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Still not good enough - that's the response to Government of Guam from the U.S. Attorney's Office in regards to trying to close the Ordot Dump. First noted was that GovGuam is not that serious about complying with its consent decree, since money hasn't been set aside this fiscal year for the Department of Public Works to close the Ordot Dump.

Second, in the '08 budget, the Guam Legislature wouldn't let DPW spend any money on site-specific preparation or design work until the local government owns the property. The U.S. Attorney's Office in court documents states that means further preparatory work for the new landfill would be halted by the lack of funds.

The feds say the court should adopt the recommendation requiring the Consolidated Commission on Utilities' oversight of the new solid waste public corporation.

Following a tour of the Layon site on November 19 the court will hold another status hearing to hear arguments on the receivership issue along with both sides objections to a magistrate judge's report and recommendation on the consent decree. The court ordered that the governor or lieutenant governor, the acting speaker and Public Works attend each of the monthly field trips and status hearings.

House approves visa waiver program for Guam, CNMI

by Sabrina Salas Matanane
KUAM News
Thursday, November 08, 2007

The House Committee on Natural Resources passed HR-3079 today, approving the Northern Mariana Island Immigration, Security and Labor Act. The measure will be reported out to the full House of Representatives for debate and voting. Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo says the bill would apply federal immigration laws to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and would provide for a delegate to Congress to represent the CNMI.

The measure with its final amendments passed unanimously today also contains several provisions for Guam that include the establishment of a unified regional visa waiver program for Guam and the CNMI, authorizing tourists to stay for forty-five days. Said Bordallo in a press release, "The amended bill and this is very important, [it] would also exempt Guam and the CNMI from the national numerical limitations or caps in current law affecting the total number of H-2 temporary worker visas that could be issued. The current national cap has been fully met over the past several years. The exemption for Guam and the CNMI will help our community meet the construction demands associated with economic growth and the planned military buildup."

The congresswoman thinks the measure has a good future when it reaches the full House, but when it will be voted on remains unclear.

Business opportunity conference will cover all bases

by Clynt Ridgell
KUAM News
Sunday, October 07, 2007

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Business in the Islands Opportunities Conference will cover several topics and growing sectors in the insular areas, from shipping to transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure. But more importantly it will give businesses the chance to learn how they might benefit from the proposed military buildup for Guam.

The conference, the fourth ever, will bring together the heads of the insular areas under one roof. Among those who will be speaking include president of Palau Tommy Remengesau, president of the FSM Manny Mori, American Samoa governor Togiola Tulafono, Guam governor Felix Camacho, and CNMI lieutenant governor Tim Villagomez, to name a few. It's an opportunity for island leaders to showcase what their individual locales offer to investors. For Guam, it's a no-brainer: the proposed buildup of military forces locally.

And who better to speak on that topic that joint Guam Program Office's Captain Robert Lee? He says while it's a DOI conference, JGPO, through a partnership with the DOI, decided to take a more active role. He said, "Due to the fact that the military buildup is proposed to happen, it's again a good time to partner with them and when we had our industry forum [David] Bice said, 'Why don't we go ahead and play a bigger part in this role? Since the business conference is about bringing business to Guam, getting folks to make an impact on their businesses, why don't you go ahead, JGPO, brief what you did at the Guam Industry Forum, kind of update it to where we are today?' So that' really what's going to happen."

The purpose of the conference is to facilitate business and economic growth in the seven U.S.-affiliated insular areas: American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonweath of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Some of those opportunities include large scale public infrastructure work of all types like improved water, power, and telecommunications are needed in all the insular areas including efforts to improve energy efficiency.

The Joint Guam Program Office and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command will use the conference as the venue for the second in their promised series of industry sessions on the military buildup. Said Lee, "In this meeting, more on the local regional level, we want to make sure that they had the same input that we gave the national audience international audience at the industry forum. Again, how we going to do business? What are the opportunities? Give us your ideas what your thinking down the road. We just want to bring everyone in and put them on the same level playing field. And of course the more people we talk to the easier its going to be to play a big part in it. That's really the goal - to get out there share what we're doing and for us as JGPO this will be a new adventure, so we're gong to see how Interior does it on their side and give us another avenue to work with some other people."

In addition to speaking in a plenary session, Department of Defense representatives will also conduct a breakout session, discussing recommendations and outcomes from their first session, which was held on Guam in August.

YouTube :: Investors to gather at DOI Business Opportunities Conference

October 07, 2007-Department of the Interior's Business in the Islands Opportunities Conference will give businesses the chance to learn how they might benefit from the proposed military buildup for Guam. Although a DOI conference, Joint Guam Program Office (JGPO) will play a major role. Opportunities for businesses are the growth in military construction on Guam over the next ten years due to the relocation of 8,000 Marines. This is expected to require over $14 billion dollars in new construction and procurement for infrastructure as well as services to support the enlarged base.

Quote: "...the more people we talk to the easier its going to be to play a big part in it."- Cpt. Robert Lee of JGPO

Federal officials arrive for military meetings

by Clynt Ridgell,
KUAM News
Friday, October 05, 2007

Deputy assistant secretary of defense David S. Sedney is on island, along with Joint Guam Program Office executive director David Bice. The latter says that the contingent will be here for three days to participate in several meetings, including meetings with the environmental regulatory agencies responsible for the production of the environmental impact statement on the Marines movement to Guam.

Bice says he and Sedney are also here to meet with a delegation of Japanese officials who are arriving tonight. "We'll be touring and briefing them Saturday," he confirmed, "so they'll be able to get to see where the proposed laydown of forces. They'll be getting a strategic overview from both General [Doug] Owens from the Air Force and Admiral [William] French and his staff from the Navy."

Bice says the delegation from Japan consists of senior policy level officials from the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who specialize in the strategic alignment of the U.S./Japan Defense Alignment Agreement. Sedney is an expert in U.S. security relationships in East Asia and said he's here, "To have a chance to see what's here on Guam to learn about the relationship that we and the Department of Defense have with the people on Guam as we look ahead to the increasingly important role that Guam will be playing in the security of the United States."

Bice will provide a briefing to the Department of the Interior's business opportunities in the Islands Conference next Monday.

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Stationing, resource ideas discussed by JGPO

by Sabrina Salas Matanane,
KUAM News
Thursday, October 04, 2007

The head of the Joint Guam Program Office provided an update on the military's plans to relocate US Marines to the island during a meeting of the Governor's Civilian/Military Task Force meeting today. And evidently, there's still much more work to be done - but officials are keeping a close eye on various properties around the island.

JGPO forward executive director Captain Robert Lee cautioned that his update on the Guam military master plan was a pre-decisional one that was not set in stone. He said, "No conclusions have been made at this time, not yet. This is a chance for you as a task force to give me more input into the planning process, that's why we're bringing it out to you as we promised in the very beginning."

That being said he began with a breakdown of the Guam military master plan. Cpt. Lee says that one of the major goals of this plan is to use as much Department of Defense property as possible to keep to a "live where you work" philosophy. The DoD is currently reviewing a number of locations for the buildup, with potential sites for placing a Marine base include NCTS at Finegayan, which has been pegged as the most viable option. Then there's the Andersen Air Force Base South, the USAF's Barrigada property and the Navy's Barrigada property.

Potential housing cites for marines include NCTS and South Finegayan as the most viable option, non-DoD lands AAFB, Andy South, the Navy's Apra property, the Air Force's Barrigada property and the Navy's Barrigada property. Potential non-firing range cites for marines include Andy South as the most viable option, NCTS Finegayan, Northwest Field, the Air Force's Barrigada property and the Navy's Barrigada property, Orote Point, and the Ordinance Annex.

Potential firing range cites for Marines include AAFB and Pati Beach as the most viable option, and then Andy South, NCTS Finegayan, Northwest Field, the Air Force's Barrigada property, the Navy's Barrigada property, Orote Point Naval Magazine and non-DoD lands. Potential aviation sites include the AAFB North Ramp as the most viable, with Northwest Field, Tiyan, and Orote Point as alternatives. Potential sites for the Marines embarcation and transient carrier berthing include Polaris Point and the former SRF site as the most viable for the transient carrier; the Victor, Uniform and Sierra wharfs as the most viable sites for the Marines various transport and amphibious vehicles.

Other news from Cpt. Lee was the promise that the proposed defense access road would be used by all. He detailed, "Even when we build this defense access road - which, by the way, it'll be like the H3 in Hawaii - the public will be able to use it. It's not going to be a private, separate road so we're going to have to build access roads off of it and the whole thing." Lee also answered questions on the DoD's position on the federalization of immigration, saying that they had no official position.

Finally, the captain dispelled rumors that the Joint Guam Program Office would be leasing Harmon cliffline property. He said that they would remain co-located with the Navy admiral at the new COMNAVMAR headquarters in Nimitz Hill.

With the new Guam High DoD school finished in Agana Heights, COMNAVMAR headquarters can return to it's old site on top of Nimitz Hill, where the old Guam High School lies.

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$1.25B Guam Defense Access Road will be like Hawaii's H3

KUAM News Thursday, October 04, 2007: Guam's proposed $1.25 Billion defense access road would be used by civilians and "...it'll be like the H3 in Hawaii...[with] access roads off of it..." promises Joint Guam Program Office (JGPO) forward executive director Captain Robert Lee.

The "North-South Road" would provide military with alternative access that links Andersen Air Force Base in north and the Navy base on south. The military use Marine Corps Drive but the road can gridlock during accidents. The highway is expected to be 100% funded by American taxpayers.

Lee said DoD had no official position on the federalization of immigration. The JGPO would not be leasing Harmon cliffline property. They would remain with the Navy admiral at the new COMNAVMAR headquarters in Nimitz Hill.

Quote: "...it'll be like the H3 in Hawaii - the public will be able to use it. It's not going to be a private, separate road...we're going to have to build access roads off of it..." -Cpt. Lee

Joint Guam Program Office & Environmental Impact Statement