OEA and Interior Urge Federal Consideration of Funding for Guam’s Buildup
Guam - In Orlando Florida, Governor Felix Camacho met with 15 federal agency principals to discuss the military buildup on Guam,
the challenges facing the island in response to the buildup, the need for partnerships, and the roles of stakeholders during the 2009 Defense Community Conference.
“My job is to ensure that in the end, the integration of this project into the fabric of our community will make Guam a better place. That is why I am here today - to expand the partnership we created with the Department of Defense to now more effectively include the other agencies of the federal government that we need assistance from,” said Gov. Camacho.
The 2009 Defense Community Conference, convened by the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), included leaders from the U.S. departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Interior, Labor, Transportation, and Defense, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Officials discussed Gov. Camacho’s Prioritized Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Fiscal Year 2010 listing, which federal officials reviewed at the request of the OEA. Interior echoed the request and further encouraged agencies to consider how Gov. Camacho’s priorities can be addressed under their current programmatic funding.
The continuation of these high-level meetings for Guam was encouraged by Interior officials and other federal leaders who noted that the Obama Administration has elevated the Guam Buildup and that responses from various federal agencies to the governor’s Prioritized FY2010 listing are already taking place.
“We have completed our infrastructural plans, and we need to implement those plans. However, without the means to do so, we will not succeed,” said Gov. Camacho. “Just in shear population impacts, consider how each of your communities would contend with an expansion in population of nearly one-third in four years.”
Gov. Camacho seized the opportunity to express concern regarding U.S. EPA’s required secondary water treatment and the potential negative impact it would have to the island.
During the conference, Labor and Education department officials expressed commitment to capacity building and enhancement within Guam’s agency programs.
“The people of Guam are committed to making this process work, but we simply do not have the capacity to realize what is necessary on our own. We are seeking the expertise of those here today to help us find a way to make this enormous undertaking work for Guam and the military,” said Gov. Camacho. “This process must be balanced and fair.”
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