U.S. Marines' move to Guam could be delayed to 2017

WASHINGTON, July 29 (PNA/KYODO) -- A planned transfer of U.S. Marines from Japan's Okinawa Prefecture to Guam could be delayed until 2017 from the current target of 2014 as the Pentagon's final environmental assessment report on the U.S. territory released on Wednesday suggested as one of the options.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the planned relocation of the Marine troops on Guam, however, did not state a specific timing of the completion of the transfer as an alternative to the current target year.

If the redeployment of some 8,000 Marine troops to Guam is delayed, it is also likely to delay the relocation of the Marines' Futenma Air Station in the prefecture beyond 2014 as they are all part of a package deal.

The final environmental assessment report estimated that the influx of people such as construction workers for building necessary facilities and infrastructure for the realignment could reach about 79,000 in 2014.

The report pointed to the need to slow the pace of transition of Marine troops to Guam as well as the need for changes of construction schedules or modification of facilities, noting that supplies of power and water will fall short of the demand amid a sudden population growth.

Then, the report said that if the arrival of Marine troops to Guam is delayed to 2017, it will curb the estimated influx of population in 2014 to about 57,000.

Changes of construction schedules and modification of facilities may further reduce the influx of population in 2014 to some 41,000, it added. (PNA/Kyodo)