Administration Dissatisfied With MDA Record of Decision on Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense System. Governor and Lt. Governor Continue Call for Convening of the[...]

Hagåtña, Guam - Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio today issued the following statement in response to a letter from Lieutenant General Heath A. Collins, Director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), outlining MDA's final action regarding the EIAMD system for Guam and the release of the Record of Decision. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluates the potential impacts of constructing and operating the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense (EIAMD) system on Guam. This system is intended to strengthen the island's ability to defend against evolving regional threats. The Record of Decision (ROD) is the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and MDA's official conclusion of the EIS process. It identifies the selected alternative for the project, explains the reasoning behind the decision, and addresses considerations such as land use, environmental protection, cultural resources, and community feedback.

"We appreciate MDA's continued engagement with our administration and their acknowledgment of our concerns. We are taking the MDA's Record of Decision very seriously. That said, I am not satisfied that the cumulative impacts that we have identified and provided to MDA during the EIS commenting period have been addressed. As Governor of Guam, I disagree with the decision not to convene the Economic Adjustment Committee (EAC) at this time. This committee convenes 22 Federal Agencies to coordinate a whole of government response to the local economic and infrastructure impacts of DOD's actions, ensuring that communities like Guam are not left to shoulder the burden of national defense missions alone. Guam's security and the safety of our people remain our highest priorities, and we are committed to ensuring that this project also reflects the well-being of our island community," said Governor Leon Guerrero.

Lt. Governor Tenorio added, "Guam's partnership with the Department of Defense must always be grounded in respect for our communities, cultural resources, and environmental stewardship. We welcome MDA's stated adherence to the 2008 Programmatic Agreement, its intent to work closely with the Guam State Historic Preservation Office and Joint Region Marianas, and its support for leveraging federal authorities to strengthen our regulatory capacity. However, the Department of Defense must also address the cumulative impact that all planned military programs will have on our island, and not just the Guam Missile Defense Program exclusively. This can best be addressed through the convening of the EAC."

A copy of the Record of Decision (ROD) can be found on the Community Defense Liaison Office (CDLO) website at https://cdlo.guam.gov.

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