FEDERAL officials who visited Guam this week said the Department of Defense is targeting a more realistic population growth of 41,000 by 2014, but the final environmental impact statement still pegs the growth at 79,178 by 2014.
Many in the local community heaved a sigh of relief when federal officials announced a significantly less figure, but the actual figure written in the final impact report revealed the inconsistency.
During a media briefing last Thursday, officials distributed a handout, which stated that “population growth at the peak of construction will be dramatically less than the 80,000 people mentioned in the draft study.”
Furthermore, it stated that there will be “a more realistic peak population growth of approximately 41,000 during construction.”
However, the final impact report states that “since the peak in construction activities and expenditures would coincide with the completed arrival of Marines and their families, 2014 represents the peak year for population increase. At this peak, the total increase in Guam population … would be an estimated 79,178 people.”
*Health and safety*
In response to public comments, the final environmental impact statement made a “major change” to its original projection on the impact of the buildup on public health and safety on Guam.
The final impact study acknowledges that the increased demand in services like health care, police, and social services is now considered a “significant impact.” But the draft impact study stated that the impact on these areas would be minimal.
Numerous comments were received regarding an increase in crime including rape, prostitution, alcohol consumption, and human trafficking.
DoD acknowledges that the increase in population from the buildup “may be accompanied by a proportional increase in crime and social disorder,” according to the final study.
However, DoD refutes the claims that Marines are responsible for a disproportionate number of the crimes in Okinawa. “Serious crimes by military personnel in Okinawa are committed at a lower rate than the overall civilian population in Okinawa, despite reports to the contrary,” states the study.
*Misbehavior*
DoD said what appears to be multiple crimes is actually a single incident “reported multiple times so that it appears to be multiple incidents.”
The department acknowledged, however, that the widely publicized incidents of military crime in Okinawa would cause the people of Guam to be concerned. DoD also acknowledged that the age group of many military personnel is “often characterized as prone to conflicts and misbehavior.”
They say they will curtail this through education and strict enforcement of laws, “to protect the citizens of Guam and our military personnel.”
