FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (August 25, 2017 – Hagåtña) – In response to the $78M contract awarded for the Live-Fire Training Range Complex at Northwest Field, Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje (D-Yoña), Chairperson for the Committee on Culture and Justice, expressed continued urgency to protect Guam’s resources:
“No amount of money can compensate for the permanent destruction, loss of access, and other adverse impacts to Guam’s historic sites, 187 acres of limestone forests, endangered species, and fishing areas that are part of this particular live-fire training range project. It is the 4000-year-old unique heritage of the Chamoru people that is under attack and these resources will be lost to future generations. The Department of Defense has not kept its promises to avoid these adverse impacts to Guam and in fact continues to expand its control over lands and waters of Guam and the Marianas. I implore the Governor to explore any and all alternatives and to seek appropriate federal audience to avoid the aforementioned adverse impacts and defend our lands and invaluable resources,” Terlaje stated.