U.S. to release huge report on impact of Guam buildup

[unhappycamper]

U.S. to release huge report on impact of Guam buildup
By Teri Weaver, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Tuesday, November 10, 2009

TOKYO — It weighs in at 10 volumes and has more than 5,000 pages of text and 9,000 pages of appendices and tables.

Putting it together was a chore, but figuring out what it all means might be the hardest part.

After more than 2½ years of research, the U.S. military this month will release a mammoth study explaining how its expansion plans on Guam will affect the land, water, wildlife and living standards on the island.

The study, officially called an environmental impact statement (EIS), is part of the Defense Department’s required legwork to add 8,000 Marines, an Army air defense unit and repeated aircraft carrier visits to an island with a land mass slightly smaller than Chicago.

Moreover, the study’s release in the Nov. 20 issue of the Federal Register will be the first detailed look at the military’s plans for most local leaders and residents. On Guam, which is across the International Date Line, the release date will be Nov. 21.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65980