Japan Press Weekly

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2007 October 24 - 30 [OKINAWA]

U.S. urged Japan to construct 214-meter pier and CALA at new base planned in Okinawa

A U.S. government document shows that the United States has pressed Japan to construct a 214 meter-long pier and a Combat Aircraft Loading Area (CALA) in addition to an air facility with huge runways to be constructed at a new U.S. Marine Corps air base off U.S. Camp Schwab located in the Henoko district of Nago City, Okinawa.

A group that filed a lawsuit with a U.S. court calling for the protection of dugongs, an endangered animal species in Okinawa, obtained the document (compiled April 2006) and published it on October 23. The U.S. government had submitted the document to the court to refute the plaintiffs.

The planned new base is a replacement of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa’s Ginowan City. Given the fact that the Futenma base has no such facilities as a pier or a CALA, the new base plan, which is part of the U.S. plan to realign and transform U.S. forces in Japan, is aimed at increasing the functions of U.S. bases in Okinawa, far from the stated aim of reducing residents’ burdens.

Makishi Yoshikazu, a plaintiff and member of the Environmental Assessment Watch Group for the Dugongs in Okinawa, stated that the pier, if constructed, would give access to 180 meter-length U.S. assault amphibious vessels.

He stressed that the document showed that the new base is designed to function also as a military port as well as a CALA, which only exists at the U.S. Kadena Air Base at present. “If the new base is constructed, armed U.S. helicopters and the tilt rotor aircraft Ospreys carrying explosives will use the air space over Nago City and the Takae district of Higashi Village,” he warned.

Referring to the environmental impact assessment concerning the construction of the new air base, the U.S. document “recommended” that the Japanese government carry it out in areas around the Henoko dam site and the land area of U.S. Camp Schwab, both in Nago. The Japanese government has maintained that such an impact assessment would only be conducted in sea areas.

The document expressed concern that the U.S. Marine Corps will have to take responsibility for any unexpected consequences caused by the construction and operation of the base, if the environmental impact assessment is flawed.

The Defense Ministry’s Okinawa office is trying to carry out the environmental impact assessment using a manual that does not require the assessment of land areas. The manual does not mention sites for the construction of a pier and a CALA.

Makishi said, “Pushing ahead with the plan to construct the new base without making these important matters public must be declared invalid. The government has no right to blatantly deceive the public.” - Akahata, October 26, 2007