Japan Press Weekly

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2011 January 26 - February 1 [OKINAWA]

Defense bureau files objection against Nago City

The Okinawa Defense Bureau on January 28 filed a petition of objection against Nago City, urging the city to withdraw its decision not to allow the bureau to conduct an environmental assessment in the waters off the Henoko district in the city.

Since 2007, aiming at promoting the construction of a new U.S. base in the sea off Henoko as an alternative to the U.S. Futenma base in Ginowan City, the bureau has regularly carried out environment impact research.

Nago City on November 30, 2010 dismissed the request for research the bureau submitted on June 15 on the grounds that the research is related to the new base construction that the municipality is opposed to and is thus unnecessary.

Inamine Susumu, Nago City Mayor, said, “The bureau’s objection has no legal basis. There is no problem with the city’s decision. I’ll deal with this issue in a legal and proper manner.”