April 29, 2009
Participants were dissatisfied with the Defense Ministry Okinawa Bureau’s explanation at hearings on the environmental impact assessment of the plan to construct a state-of-the-art U.S. Marine Corps air base offshore USMC Camp Schwab in Okinawa.
The bureau’s briefing sounded almost like an attempt to offer a shaky alibi in order to push ahead with the new air base project (to be completed by 2014).
At the hearings held at three locations, including one in the Henoko district of Nago City during April 22-24, no more than 18 citizens were allowed to ask questions.
Many questions focused on the published methods for the environmental impact assessment on the new base plan.
As regards noise pollution that might be caused by the new air base, they asked the agency to explain the planned flight routes and whether they will be over residential areas. The defense ministry official recognized that the matter has not been touched on.
The new air base will need 21 million cubic meters of sands for the reclamation of the coastal area that is rich in coral reefs. The bureau said that at least 17 million cubic meters of sand needs to be brought in from outside the Henoko district, but added that it has not been decided from where sands will come.
Asked who should be responsible for possible accidents and crimes caused by U.S. Marines around the new base site, the answer was that “maintaining the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is a matter of priority and the presence of U.S. military facilities is essential.” A participant asked, “Do you mean Okinawans will have to pay the cost for the security treaty forever?”
Many of them demanded that more hearings on the project’s environmental assessment be held, which was rejected by the bureau.
After the hearings, Makishi Koichi, member of the Environmental Assessment Watch Group for the Dugongs in Okinawa, stated, “Explanation by the defense ministry was one-sided and the question time was too short. Though the hearing was originally aimed at increasing communication between concerned residents and the government, the government unilaterally undertook the hearings by ignoring due steps.”
The bureau’s briefing sounded almost like an attempt to offer a shaky alibi in order to push ahead with the new air base project (to be completed by 2014).
At the hearings held at three locations, including one in the Henoko district of Nago City during April 22-24, no more than 18 citizens were allowed to ask questions.
Many questions focused on the published methods for the environmental impact assessment on the new base plan.
As regards noise pollution that might be caused by the new air base, they asked the agency to explain the planned flight routes and whether they will be over residential areas. The defense ministry official recognized that the matter has not been touched on.
The new air base will need 21 million cubic meters of sands for the reclamation of the coastal area that is rich in coral reefs. The bureau said that at least 17 million cubic meters of sand needs to be brought in from outside the Henoko district, but added that it has not been decided from where sands will come.
Asked who should be responsible for possible accidents and crimes caused by U.S. Marines around the new base site, the answer was that “maintaining the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is a matter of priority and the presence of U.S. military facilities is essential.” A participant asked, “Do you mean Okinawans will have to pay the cost for the security treaty forever?”
Many of them demanded that more hearings on the project’s environmental assessment be held, which was rejected by the bureau.
After the hearings, Makishi Koichi, member of the Environmental Assessment Watch Group for the Dugongs in Okinawa, stated, “Explanation by the defense ministry was one-sided and the question time was too short. Though the hearing was originally aimed at increasing communication between concerned residents and the government, the government unilaterally undertook the hearings by ignoring due steps.”
