Not Henoko but Hawaii will undergo Ospray-related environmental assessment

Japan Press Weekly

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Not Henoko but Hawaii will undergo Ospray-related environmental assessment

An environmental impact assessment in preparation for the deployment of MV-22 Osprey aircraft will be conducted in Hawaii based on the U.S. domestic law, but not in Henoko of Okinawa.

The U.S. Marines is planning to deploy Ospreys in Okinawa in 2012 and Hawaii in 2014.

It does not make sense for the U.S. government to carry out the examination of the possible environmental damage only in Hawaii. However, the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement does not require the U.S. authority to conduct such an assessment in regard to Japan.

An environmental assessment that the Japanese government conducted around Henoko in Okinawa’s Nago City where a U.S. air base will be constructed did not take into account the possible deployment of Ospreys.

The Okinawans are now requesting the government to reassess the ambient impact around the new base site, but the government is refusing their request, saying, “It’s not necessary.”

- Akahata, October 29, 2010