By: Eustoria Marie Borja
Ngaraard, Palau — The Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB) has acknowledged the concerns raised by Ngaraard Governor Sharp Sakuma regarding the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the US Tactical Mobile Over-the-Horizon Radar (TACMOR) Transmitter Facility in Chol, Ngaraard. In a response letter dated April 2, the EQPB assured the governor that they are taking these matters seriously and are committed to addressing the issues he highlighted.
Concerns have been raised that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) report on the TACMOR project in Ngaraard did not respond to some of the questions that citizens raised on the EIS report. The report was disseminated publicly for community questions and feedback but citizens who had asked questions during the community meetings have not had their questions responded to as promised. EQPB is responsible for approving Environmental Impact Statements.
In their letter, the EQPB explained that while they recognize the significance of the concerns from Ngaraard State, they do not possess independent jurisdiction over the TACMOR project, which has been negotiated at the highest levels between the national governments of Palau and the United States. Letter from EQPB said the board is actively seeking guidance on how to navigate the project’s regulatory landscape.
To facilitate this process, EQPB indicated they are consulting with the Attorney General’s office and plan to involve the Office of the President and the Ministry of State. Their goal is to ensure that the concerns raised by Governor Sakuma in his original March 25 letter are addressed comprehensively.
The EQPB’s correspondence also reached a variety of stakeholders, including the Ngaraard State Council of Chiefs, the Ngaraard State Assembly, the Ngaraard TACMOR Review Board, Delegate Gibson Kanai, and Minister Charles Obichang of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Industries, and Commerce (MPIIC).
In his initial correspondence, Governor Sakuma expressed worries over the final EIS for the TACMOR facility, citing environmental and community-related issues that have emerged in Ngaraard. The EQPB encouraged ongoing dialogue to address any further questions or concerns regarding the project. The TACMOR project itself is a long-term cooperative agreement between Palau and the United States, focused on establishing a transmitter facility in Chol — a subject of growing community apprehension due to its potential environmental impact.