Draft EIS Public Meetings to be Held on Saipan and Tinian

On April 3, 2015 (HST) the Department of Defense (DoD) published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS) that evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with the establishment of a series of live-fire ranges, training courses, and maneuver areas in the CNMI (Tinian and Pagan) to reduce existing joint service training deficiencies and meet U.S. Pacific Command Service Components’ unfilled unit and combined level training requirements in the Western Pacific. As a result, a public comment period is now open until June 2, 2015 (HST). The DoD encourages the public to participate in the upcoming public meetings where attendees will be able to ask questions directly of DoD officials and subject matter experts and submit comments that will help shape the Final EIS/OEIS and inform the DoD’s decision. The public meetings are (ChST):

  • Wednesday, April 29, 2015, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Saipan Southern High School Cafeteria
  • Thursday, April 30, 2015, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Tinian Junior Senior High School Cafeteria
  • Friday, May 1, 2015, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Garapan Elementary School

The public meetings will be open house style with informational posters and materials on the Draft EIS/OEIS, including a period of time for attendees to provide verbal comments during a public hearing. Written comments will be accepted at the meetings and throughout the comment period.

For additional information about the proposed action and the associated EIS process please visit our official website at www.CNMIJointMilitaryTrainingEIS.com.