Many Okinawans are critical of environmental impact assessment of planned U.S. air base

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Many Okinawans are critical of environmental impact assessment of planned U.S. air base

The Okinawa Regional Defense Bureau has received more than 5,000 comments on its environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the planned construction of a state-of-the-art U.S. Marine Corps air base off Cape Henoko in Nago City, Okinawa, suggesting how strong Okinawans' opposition to the plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within the prefecture.

Prepared by the Okinawa Defense Bureau, the 5,400-page EIA was made available for public inspection in April and opinions were accepted from citizens until May 15.

One comment reads, "The ministry assessment on possible environmental impacts on the marine ecological system completely ignores damage to coral reefs and dugongs as a result of reclamation of the offshore area under the plan.

An 86-year-old man wrote, "I experienced the Battle of Okinawa, which was a hell. The presence of military forces adversely affects islanders as well as Americans stationed here. Don't waste tax money to build a new base for wars."

Citizens argued, "Who can finish reading the mammoth volume of the draft paper within the short time alloted at only a few sites? The ministry should prepare more places with enough time for public inspection."

What's worse, the paper referred to the construction of port facilities to be accessed by U.S. warships, munitions loading areas for aircraft, and four helipads. However, these were not referred to in the 2004 'method' paper. The government made another violation in the Environmental Assessment Act.

Criticizing the government for publishing such insufficient findings, many NGOs, such as the Nago Council against the Construction of U.S. On-Sea Heliport, the Environmental Assessment Watch Group for the Dugongs in Okinawa, and the Japanese Communist Party Okinawa Prefectural Committee held study meetings, delivered printed papers, and published critical views.

Onishi Teruo, "Nago Council" representative, welcomed the rapid increase in the opposition movement, saying, "This indicates how little support the government has been getting among the islanders on the air base plan."

Environmental groups and citizens plan to hold a symposium and rallies so that the environmental impact assessment of the new base plan will be rejected.

- Akahata, May 21, 2009