Guam concerns about US Marines' shift from Okinawa
The local government of Guam has shown concern over a possible expansion of land use under a plan to transfer 8,000 US Marines to the island from Okinawa, Japan.
The US military put together a final environmental impact report in July and suggested the move be completed in 2017, rather than in 2014, the time line which was agreed by the governments of Japan and the US.
The Guam local government, which basically accepts the move, has shown opposition to further expansion of the amount of land used by the military.
In a letter sent to the US military on Thursday, it opposed the construction of new facilities on the island, as one-third of it is already used by the military.
The local government stated that the US government had promised 4 years ago that there would be no further expropriation of land. It pointed out that there is some action to break the promise. It requested the military use existing facilities.
Some residents of Guam intensified their opposition to the transfer of the Marines recently.
The US government and local government are expected to work out their differences before the final decision will be made sometime in early September.
2010/08/07