Public Comment Template - Project J-017

Buenas yan Håfa Adai,

I am a concerned citizen deeply disturbed by the clearing of our three cultural sites as part of Project J-017 that were eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. I am horrified by the clearing of these sites, which hold great significance to my culture and identity. I am furious that the period for public comments comes after these highly significant sites have already been cleared. Denying an opportunity for public review prevented meaningful public information sharing, involvement, comments and critique that could have made project changes to preserve the site.

I object to further action at the site for the proposed marine base due to inadequate background research, the desecration of our ancient burials and the permanent destruction of our land, endangered species, and invaluable resources, including the risk of compromising our island’s main water source.

⁣Losing three cultural sites is a grave loss for Guåhan. How many more of our sacred sites have been cleared for this marine base and other buildup projects? Our community deserves to know this number and the destruction must stop. Mitigation through “data recovery” is not an appropriate measure considering we are losing sites that are irreplaceable and culturally invaluable. Any adverse impacts on our cultural resources is a part of our identity lost that we cannot get back.

While the PA memo cited the three sites as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under criterion D, I argue that the cleared sites should also be considered as eligible under Criterion A, B and C. They should have never been cleared, and I OBJECT to any future clearings of our cultural sites or artifacts. As our community has stated many times prior, these special parts of our identity must be preserved in place. We do not need another military base on our 212 square mile island.

I am highly dissatisfied with the PA Memo process the DOD uses to gather community input. The misleading language and jargon ultimately leave us with more questions than answers. More often than not, these memos lack complete information and detailed mitigation plans. Moreover, the memos leave us guessing the whereabouts of our historical artifacts, remains of our ancient ones and remnants of our ancient past. Where is the military putting our artifacts that have been cleared? Does it discard those artifacts that it does not deem "significant"? Our community deserves to know these answers.

I urge our SHPO Patrick Lujan to use his power to utilize non-invasive documentation techniques for any and all historic property documentation. Such documentation is possible without putting a shovel in the ground. We also urge SHPO Lujan to invoke Stipulation 13 for any and all future buildup projects that will adversely impact our cultural sites, even those deemed “insignificant” through DOD’s colonial lens. In addition, local leaders and the DOD must institute the following measures relative to buildup projects. Failure to do so will only add to the public outcry.

Establish a local committee to study impacts and necessity of the live-fire training range complex, and to report the findings to the community

Assemble local experts and advisers on military statements regarding the buildup

Provide status reports on the local government's oversight of the buildup, including site visits and mitigation efforts

Establish a plan for increased local oversight of the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer

Assess future Department of Defense plans on island

Prevent further disruption of ancient sites and preserving historical sites in place

Request detailed maps from the military of historic sites on base

Assess via local efforts the buildup's economic impacts to the island

Conduct village-wide town halls on the issue

Again, I reiterate my objection to the clearing of our cultural sites in any capacity. Due to the lack of detail and transparency surrounding buildup projects in general, it is my opinion that the DOD has failed in its commitment to uphold the "One Guam" approach and abide by its pledge to be culturally sensitive. Time and time again, our community has urged that these invaluable parts of our history be preserved in place.

Senseramente,

____________________________________

Link to PA MEMO for Project: http://go.usa.gov/kZWG

EMAIL LIST:
criwebcomment@navy.mil

patrick.lujan@dpr.guam.gov

mayor.mcdonald671@gmail.com

agatmayor@yahoo.com

agatvice.chrisfejeran@yahoo.com

asanmainamayor@gmail.com

mayorbarrigada@gmail.com

jessie.bautista007@gmail.com

ocp.mayor@gmail.com