UPDATE FROM 8/23/2024 - NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE GUAM NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, RITIDIAN UNIT
The U.S. Marine Corps, with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Cooperating Agency, has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and requests public comment. The proposed action is construction of new U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) facilities and associated infrastructure at the Ritidian Unit of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge. New DOI facilities are required to replace existing facilities that fall within a U.S. Marine Corps live fire training range safety zone that overlays a portion of the Refuge. The Marine Corps anticipates the project would result in less than significant impacts on the quality of the human or natural environment. The Marine Corps seeks public input on the analysis of environmental effects and findings of the Draft EA.https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/About-Us/National-Environmental-Policy-Act-NEPA-Information. Printed copies are also available for viewing at the following locations: Dededo Public Library and the Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library. Written comments on the Draft EA may be provided by mail to: EV21 Project Mgr., Ritidian Unit Facility Construction EA, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Pacific, 258 Makalapa Dr, Ste 100, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI 96860-3134. Comments may also be submitted via email to: NFPAC-Receive@navy.mil. Written comments must be received or postmarked by September 23, 2024 Chamorro Standard Time (ChST) to be considered in the Final EA. |
| The U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a joint informational meeting on Thursday September 12, 2024 from 5 to 8 pm ChST at the Dededo Community Senior Center (319 Iglesia Circle, Dededo). The public meeting will be an open house with poster stations staffed by project representatives who can provide information and answer questions. Public comments will be accepted at the meeting. |
OTHER UPDATES:
As a national defense priority, the U.S. Navy is establishing a new live fire training range complex at Anderson Air Force Base. As the complex’s surface danger zone (SDZ) overlays a portion of the Ritidian Unit of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge (GNWR), the U.S. Departments of Navy and the Interior were mandated by law (FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law No. 113-291) to relocate existing refuge facilities on the Ritidian Unit of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge.
Headquarters Marine Corps is conducting initial survey work and developing an Environmental Assessment to analyze the potential environmental effects of the proposed construction of replacement facilities, infrastructure, and access at the Ritidian Unit. GNWR staff are working with the Marine Corps to avoid, minimize, and mitigate potential adverse effects to these historic properties through avoidance and site design.
For the safety of visitors to Ritidian, it is anticipated that access to public areas may be affected until survey work is complete in 2024. Please continue to monitor the Guam National Wildlife Refuge’s website for additional information during this period. Specific information of the survey work, and refuge access areas impacted can be found on this infographic.
All questions regarding survey work should be directed to the Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, Communication Strategy and Operations Office at (671) 362-7371 or diann.rosenfeld.mil@usmc.mil.