EPA criticizes military buildup plan in Guam, cites water supply, sewage infrastructure

EPA criticizes military buildup plan in Guam

HONOLULU — The Environmental Protection Agency is sharply criticizing the military’s plan for moving thousands of Marines to Guam.

The agency says the military is failing to address problems the expected population surge would create for the U.S. territory’s water supply and sewage system.

The EPA also says the military’s plan to build a new aircraft carrier berth at Apra Harbor would result in “unacceptable impacts” to 71 acres of a high-quality coral reef.

The criticism came in a six-page letter to the Navy regarding the military’s draft environmental impact statement for the buildup. The Feb. 17 letter says the expected impacts are “of sufficient magnitude” that the military shouldn’t proceed with the project as proposed.