EIS/OEIS Released for Public Review

The draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS) for the Guam and CNMI Military Relocation was released today (November 20, 2009) for public review. The EIS/OEIS document can be downloaded from the Joint Guam Program Office website by clicking the link below:

Joint Guam Program Office EIS/OEIS Website

According to this website, "comments are an important part of the environmental planning process and you are encouraged to submit your comments online via this website, by mail, or by attending the public hearings. Comments must be submitted by February 17, 2010 in order to be considered in the Final EIS/OEIS....The Draft EIS/OEIS is available for review on this website, as well as in local libraries on Guam, Tinian, and Saipan and at a reading room at the Agana Shopping Center on Guam."

Shaping the Future . . . Together

As the population of Guam increases with the military buildup, it is imperative that we continue to support a collaborative process in “Shaping the Future . . . Together”

GovLtGov Hafa Adai! We are proud to welcome you to the OneGuam website; a site dedicated to helping the people of Guam stay informed relative to the military buildup and several important initiatives that are being undertaken by my office to ensure a smooth transition.

With the planned increase of military forces on Guam, the Governor’s Office is working to ensure that the preparations for this buildup are well planned and executed. Providing opportunities for enhanced economic development, new employment opportunities, improved infrastructure and public services will allow Guam to continue its key role in the national defense system. Key initiatives are: ♦ Planning Support, including a Compatibility Sustainability Study (CSS), ♦ Environmental Impact Statement support, and ♦ Financial Impact Analysis.

We invite everyone to participate in the tremendous growth that already is changing the face of our island. Through this website, we will share the latest information about the Guam Buildup and the key initiatives that will prepare our community for the changes ahead.

Major Accomplishments

To address the impacts of the military build-up, Governor Camacho's administration has:

Secured over $450 million in bonds to address the new landfill, COLA, and other issues
Secured $100 million load from USDA to fund the new landfill's development
(click here to read more on landfill)
Secured additional funding to support Port Modernization Development plan
(click here to read more on Port Modernization)
Reduced General Fund deficit by about $85 million in Fiscal Year 2008
Application for TIGER grant totaling $49.7 Million (announcement of awards expected no later than February 2010)
Secured $75 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds
Secured $48 million in Defense Authorization funds

oneguam_logo Guam is entering into a period of unprecedented economic expansion fueled by the impending military buildup. The Marine Base Realignment and the concurrent expansion and refurbishing of Naval and Air Force facilities has been hailed as the single largest peace time investment in military base realignment embarked upon in the history of the United States. Not only will the culture, environment, quality of life, and the future of the island be changed, but Guam’s strategic importance in the nation’s defense will be greatly enhanced. Guam’s ability to effectively integrate the military expansion will determine the island’s growth and development well into the 21st century.

Given the magnitude and complexity of the military build-up program, the Office of the Governor has retained a team of firms that specialize in developing the plans, policies and implementation actions needed to support Guam's efforts associated with the military buildup. As members of the Advisory Consulting Team (ACT), Matrix Design Group, Navigant Consulting and M2D2, are dedicated to advising and supporting the Office of the Governor of Guam in achieving the goals of the military buildup program and the future of Guam.

Compatibility Sustainability Study (CSS)

The military has long been a major component of life on Guam, providing jobs and community support that are part of everyday life on the Island. In the coming years, changes in the national defense strategy will include a major buildup in facilities and forces on Guam. While these changes are in the planning stages, it is critical that Guam is in step with its own plans to ensure this buildup is seamless and provides benefits to those that call Guam home.

To help accommodate this growth, protect existing communities, and provide opportunities for economic development, the Office of the Governor has hired a team of advisors with expertise in compatibility planning. As part of this effort, a Compatibility Sustainability Study (CSS) will be prepared. The CSS is a joint planning effort between Guam and the military.

Environmental Support

The primary goal of the ACT is to ensure the Office of the Governor and the people of Guam are well versed on the relevance of the EIS/OEIS and have a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of how the DOD proposed action will impact the Territory, including direct and indirect impacts. The ACT will provide a reasonable analysis of matters of significance, including cumulative impacts, to the Office of the Governor on how the Territory integrates and/or challenges issues in the Territory’s overall planning for the military buildup.

The ACT will work closely with relevant GovGuam agencies, the Department of the Navy, and the Navy’s EIS/OEIS consultant to provide sound counsel and recommendations to the Governor and the people of Guam.

Fiscal Impact Assessment

In today’s world of shrinking resources, governments and government agencies face performance challenges which are different than those facing other organizations. They must manage and deliver a broad range of services and development projects in a highly-visible, multi-stakeholder environment with limited resources, tight budgetary controls, and short deadlines. This is especially the case with the proposed military buildup on Guam.

The ACT will support the Government of Guam by:

Working with the Territory’s departments and agencies on the development of significant and critical Territory baseline data, which is imperative to and will enhance the quality of the Navy’s Socioeconomic Impact Assessment Study (SIAS);
Collaborate with the Navy’s SIAS Team on social, economic, and fiscal issues; and
Developing a Financial Impact Assessment.

Governor Unveils Guam's Vision to Address Military Buildup

“ONE Island – ONE Vision – ONE Future”

The Governor’s office presented the Governor’s vision for Guam today that addresses the military buildup. Governor Camacho stated, “We are at the beginning of a period of tremendous opportunity. The growth in jobs, income, and the long term improvement of our roads, utilities and community facilities, which the military buildup will bring, is unprecedented. There has never been, in my life time, a greater opportunity to improve the quality of life for all Guamanians. There is only ONE GUAM, and we must shape this opportunity and develop a road map to ensure that we preserve our culture and provide an improved quality of life for our children and future generations. To help realize a vision for Guam, the road map needs to be based upon sound community planning, protection of our environment and the prudent management of our resources.”

The Governor’s vision is encapsulated in the phrase, “One Island - One Vision - One Future .” The Governor indicated that the theme was to denote the inclusive nature of this process. “We are working as one community to make Guam a better place. The scale of what we are embarking on is so large that it will touch everyone that lives here. That is why our vision must include all, and leave no one behind.” The Governor went on to indicate that the details of the “vision” will be evolving and will be shaped by several military buildup and community planning endeavors. However, he went on to say, “Let there be no doubt, Guam will be a community of villages and neighborhoods that will be properly planned. Our island will be a modern place, a true reflection of our culture which provides our people with the infrastructure and facilities for a better Guam while preserving the natural resources of the island. Our vision and road map will be an example to the world of how the protection and enhancement of the environment need not be sacrificed to achieve a better quality of life through economic growth. As we move forward in accomplishing our road map, it is important that the public take an active role in developing the different plans which create the road map.”

Workshop Handouts

The following are the materials handed out at the workshops held on October 27 (Tamuning), October 28 (Dededo) and October 29 (Agat).

Click the document picture to download that document.

	PowerPoint Presentation This file includes a copy of the slides that were presented at the three workshops.
	Compatibility Sustainability Study Fact Sheet The Compatibility Sustainability Study (CSS) Fact Sheet provides an overview of the CSS program. The fact sheet states what is a CSS, the objectives of the study, how it will be developed, and what will be addressed.
	Compatibility Factors Brochure The CSS will start from a set of 24 standard compatibility factors that are used to help ensure all compatibility issues are identified and addressed. While some of these issues may not occur on Guam, they are presented below to provide a sense of the comprehensive nature of the CSS evaluation. This brochure provides a definition of the 24 standard compatibility factors.
	NEPA / SIAS Planning Guide The Department of Defence is nearing the release of two key documents concerning the military buildup. This brochure provides an overview of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Socioeconomic Impact Assessment Study (SIAS).
	Acronyms / Glossary This document provides the definition of acronyms and a glossary of key terms that may come up in discussing the military buildup. This will be an important reference to use as part of the CSS and upcoming NEPA documents.