FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 14, 2019 – Hagåtña) – Senator Therese Terlaje continues to ask the Governor for a pause to be placed on the clearing of vegetation and construction of the Live Fire Training Range Complex (LFTRC) at Northwest Field to give more time for the State Historic Preservation Officer and community to consider the importance of the newly discovered historic artifacts, and for the Governor to lead discussions with the military as to whether the additional historic properties can be avoided at the proposed construction area adjacent to the ancient village of Ritidian.
Recently, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) was notified of at least three more new discoveries of additional historic sites during the clearing of the forest in the proposed Known Distance Rifle Range (KDRR) area which is one of five proposed firing ranges at LFTRC. One of the sites discovered had at least 400 pieces of pottery found in a dense area, and another area encompassing 7 acres of artifacts needed further surveying. The Marine Corps Activity Guam report noted that the 3 areas are probable sites or extensions of one larger site, pending confirmation by additional investigations. The properties found contained fire features (potential earth ovens), Latte Period ceramic scatters, various lithics, and shell artifacts. In this proposed Northwest Field construction area are 94 known historic sites which is separate from the 3 new historic sites discovered. Fourteen of the ninety-four historic sites have already been excavated and removed from the area. There is a concern that more new discoveries will be made as clearing continues for the 18-acre KDRR range. Additionally, the Multi-purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range area, which is the largest of the five ranges at LFTRC encompassing 59 acres is slated to be cleared next. SHPO is concerned that there are already too many new discoveries of historic properties to ignore their frequency and has contended that more surveying is necessary to ascertain if the area was an ancient village.
“Many promises have been made by leaders to protect and defend our culture and environment. Despite numerous objections and public comments shared by Guam SHPO, Guam National Wildlife Refuge, fishermen, government agencies, original landowners and concerned community members over several years, DOD has continued to move forward with the clearing and construction of the Live Fire Training Range Complex at Northwest Field putting at risk historic sites along with at least 187 acres of limestone forests, and year round public access to Ritidian. The time for action is now. As we have seen by the destruction of Magua, the clearing of 14 historic sites in the firing range area already, and the new discoveries of more historic sites, a week from now may be too late,” Terlaje states.
See documents sent to the Governor:
June 12, 2019 Letter to the Governor Leon Guerrero
Summary of Concerns – Live Fire Training Range Complex