State leaders seek probe into landslides at US radar project site in Palau
- Admin
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
U.S. military contractors in Palau have resumed construction at the defense project site in Ngaraard State after a brief pause due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.
The state government is seeking an investigation into the cause of the soil avalanche, which briefly disrupted the construction of a structural foundation for a tactical multi-mission over-the-horizon radar transmitter.
"Why did the mudslides and landslides occur? What preventive measures failed or were not implemented in the first place and need to be addressed ASAP?" reads the letter signed by Ngaraard's traditional and political leaders led by Gov. Sharp Sakuma.
They said the mudslides, which overran the mangrove areas and the surrounding seagrass marine habitats, indicated that the existing erosion control measures "are not effective."
The state officials reminded environment and permitting authorities that any violation of the conditions set in the permit issued to the contractor should entail a stop-work order and penalties.
"Continued inaction in the face of a documented discharge event is itself agency inaction subject to challenge as arbitrary and capricious," states the letter sent to Charles Obichang, public infrastructure minister, and Florencio Yamada, chair of the Environmental Quality Protection Board.
The Department of War's $118 million project, being built by Gilbane Federal, was initially scheduled for completion this year.
However, the project was marred by environmental issues, permitting disagreements, and a series of court actions seeking to stop the radar construction on land leased to the U.S. government.
Ngaraard State had challenged the outcome of the environmental review process and the contractor's authority to work in Palau without a locally issued license.
Earlier this year, the Palau Supreme Court denied the state's petition for permanent injunction.
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"These destructive runoff and mudslides being deposited into the mangroves and sea beds of our marine environment are the very concern we had voiced
from the very beginning and what we had hoped would not occur. Regretfully,
our fears have now become a destructive reality," the state leaders said in their Aug. 6 letter to the infrastructure and environmental officials.
"How do we address short-term, medium-term and permanent damage of marine and nature wildfire?" they asked.
The state officials also raised concerns about the subsequent damage to road infrastructure, particularly on parts of the asphalt-paved thoroughfare that support major traffic.
"What is the damage assessment? Will we get back to pre-project quality environment status? What is the health and status of the marine life there, inside the mangroves and outside on the seagrass and adjacent fish/marine habitats?" they asked.
They asked what measures are in place to prevent the recurrence of the mudslides and similar incidents.
"We wish to reiterate that we approved and support the TACMOR project and our special friendship incorporated through the Compact of Free Association. All we ask are three things: 1) Respect, 2) Respect, 3) Respect," they concluded.
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