National Trust for Historic Preservation Responds to Department of Defense’s Decision to Defer Final Action on Building Firing Range Complex Above Guam’s Ancient Pågat Village
Posted September 23, 2010 | Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
Washington, D.C. (September 23, 2010) — Late Tuesday, September 21, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) released its final “Record of Decision” regarding the planned military buildup on Guam. The DoD’s initial statement a day earlier suggested that Department would “defer” a final decision on a firing range complex currently proposed to be constructed directly above Guam’s ancient Pågat Village. However, the language of the 185-page Record of Decision indicates that alternative sites will not be considered.
Placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in May 2010, Pågat Village is one of Guam's most treasured cultural sites. Dating to 700 A.D., Pågat is revered by the Chamorro people, who continue to perform thousand year-old traditional cultural practices at the site, and it serves as a popular destination for hikers, tourists, and students who are drawn to the area's serpentine beachfront forest and sparkling underwater caves. Construction of a firing range complex on a bluff directly above the site would bring military exercises, live ammunition, and security fencing to Pågat. As a result, access to this cherished cultural site will be significantly curtailed, treasured artifacts will be threatened, and thousands of years of Chamorro history will be placed in harm's way.
“We and our partners in Guam were initially relieved to learn that the Defense Department would defer final action on this proposal” said Dr. Anthea Hartig, director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Western Office in San Francisco. “However, the fine print of the Record of Decision strongly suggests that DoD will not reconsider its primary decision, which is to site the firing range complex directly above Pågat Village. This will not allow a meaningful consideration of alternatives to avoid adverse impacts to Pågat.”
On Friday, September 17, National Trust President Stephanie Meeks sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urging the Department to consider alternative locations for the proposed firing range complex. She stressed the Guam legislature’s recent unanimous resolution stating that the historic value and cultural significance of Pågat Village must be preserved.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately-funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. www.PreservationNation.org
