UPDATE FROM 10/31/2024 - NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE GUAM NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, RITIDIAN UNIT
The U.S. Marine Corps, with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Cooperating Agency, has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the public comment period already closed. The proposed action is construction of new U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) facilities and associated infrastructure at the Ritidian Unit of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge. New DOI facilities are required to replace existing facilities that fall within a U.S. Marine Corps live fire training range safety zone that overlays a portion of the Refuge. The Marine Corps anticipates the project would result in less than significant impacts on the quality of the human or natural environment. The public comment period for this proposed rule has CLOSED. The analysis of the environmental effects and findings of the Draft EA can be found here:https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/About-Us/National-Environmental-Policy-Act-NEPA-Information. Printed copies are also available for viewing at the following locations: Dededo Public Library and the Nieves M. Flores Memorial Library. |
| The U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held a joint informational meeting on Thursday September 12, 2024 from 5 to 8 pm ChST at the Dededo Community Senior Center (319 Iglesia Circle, Dededo). The public meeting was an open house with poster stations staffed by project representatives who provided information and answered questions. Public comments were accepted during the meeting. |
OTHER UPDATES:
As a national defense priority, the U.S. Navy is establishing a new live fire training range complex at Anderson Air Force Base. As the complex’s surface danger zone (SDZ) overlays a portion of the Ritidian Unit of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge (GNWR), the U.S. Departments of Navy and the Interior were mandated by law (FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law No. 113-291) to relocate existing refuge facilities on the Ritidian Unit of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge.
Headquarters Marine Corps is conducting initial survey work and developing an Environmental Assessment to analyze the potential environmental effects of the proposed construction of replacement facilities, infrastructure, and access at the Ritidian Unit. GNWR staff are working with the Marine Corps to avoid, minimize, and mitigate potential adverse effects to these historic properties through avoidance and site design.
For the safety of visitors to Ritidian, it is anticipated that access to public areas may be affected until survey work is complete in mid-2025. Please continue to monitor the Guam National Wildlife Refuge’s website for additional information during this period. Specific information of the survey work, and refuge access areas impacted can be found on this infographic.
All questions regarding survey work should be directed to the Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, Communication Strategy and Operations Office at (671) 362-7371 or diann.rosenfeld.mil@usmc.mil.