HAGÅTÑA, Guam — The Office of the Governor of Guam is inviting the public to review and comment on a draft Programmatic Agreement outlining how Joint Region Marianas will meet its responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act when planning and carrying out Department of Defense projects and activities on DoD lands on Guam.
The draft agreement, between the Commander of Joint Region Marianas and the Guam State Historic Preservation Officer, is intended to set an overall framework for review and consultation in a way that supports military readiness while protecting and respecting Guam’s historic and cultural resources, traditional CHamoru lifeways, and culturally important sites.
In announcing the public comment period, Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero encouraged community members to read the draft and submit input, saying the process gives residents a chance to help shape how future military activities will respect and protect cultural sites and heritage.
According to the governor’s office, the draft Programmatic Agreement would apply to DoD undertakings on Guam within Joint Region Marianas’ area of responsibility not already covered by existing agreements, including the 2011 Guam Buildup Programmatic Agreement and the 2020 testing and training Programmatic Agreement. It would also replace and supersede a 2008 agreement for Navy undertakings on Guam.
The draft also includes procedures tied to archaeological review, treatment of historic buildings and structures, inadvertent discoveries, and human remains, and calls for tools and processes such as archaeological sensitivity maps, public access planning for culturally important sites on DoD lands, and regular reporting and consultation with the SHPO.
The public comment period will be open for 30 days from the date of the announcement. The draft agreement and instructions for submitting comments are posted on OpenGov Guam under the Community Defense Liaison Office news page, and written comments may be submitted to the Guam SHPO by email.
Guam Governor Opens 30-Day Public Comment on Draft DoD Historic Preservation Agreement
HAGÅTÑA, Guam — The Office of the Governor of Guam is inviting the public to review and comment on a draft Programmatic Agreement outlining how Joint Region Marianas will meet its responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act when planning and carrying out Department of Defense projects and activities on DoD lands on Guam.
The draft agreement, between the Commander of Joint Region Marianas and the Guam State Historic Preservation Officer, is intended to set an overall framework for review and consultation in a way that supports military readiness while protecting and respecting Guam’s historic and cultural resources, traditional CHamoru lifeways, and culturally important sites.
In announcing the public comment period, Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero encouraged community members to read the draft and submit input, saying the process gives residents a chance to help shape how future military activities will respect and protect cultural sites and heritage.
According to the governor’s office, the draft Programmatic Agreement would apply to DoD undertakings on Guam within Joint Region Marianas’ area of responsibility not already covered by existing agreements, including the 2011 Guam Buildup Programmatic Agreement and the 2020 testing and training Programmatic Agreement. It would also replace and supersede a 2008 agreement for Navy undertakings on Guam.
The draft also includes procedures tied to archaeological review, treatment of historic buildings and structures, inadvertent discoveries, and human remains, and calls for tools and processes such as archaeological sensitivity maps, public access planning for culturally important sites on DoD lands, and regular reporting and consultation with the SHPO.
The public comment period will be open for 30 days from the date of the announcement. The draft agreement and instructions for submitting comments are posted on OpenGov Guam under the Community Defense Liaison Office news page, and written comments may be submitted to the Guam SHPO by email.