WEBVTT

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The territory of Guam and the

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Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana

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Islands host a diverse range of native

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plants and wildlife and contain

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numerous culturally significant sites .

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The islands are also strategically

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vital for military readiness activities

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and home to tens of thousands of US

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military personnel and their families .

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In its role as a responsible steward ,

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the US military is committed to

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balancing the management of these

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unique resources with the conduct of

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realistic training opportunities

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critical to the readiness and safety of

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service members .

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Military personnel must be ready to

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respond quickly to any situation that

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may arise , whether engaging in large

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scale conflict , providing humanitarian

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response , aiding in disaster recovery ,

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or securing the world's oceans . The

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military services train service members

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and test new technologies in realistic

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environments , so they are ready to

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defend the United States , its

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territories , allies and interests . At

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sea military readiness activities in

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the Mariana Islands include training ,

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testing , and range maintenance and

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sustainment . The navy and other armed

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forces have safely trained and tested

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in the seas and skies around the

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Mariana Islands for decades . As the

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Western Pacific grows in military

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importance , the location of the

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islands is ideal , allowing the US

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military and its allies and partners to

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maintain a consistent presence in a

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strategic area , while maintaining the

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ability to train in real-world settings

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such as on Farallon de Meania . To

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prepare for adversaries , increasingly

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sophisticated submarines , torpedoes ,

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in-water mines and other systems ,

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training and testing activities may

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include the use of active sonar ,

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explosives , and other sources of sound .

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The Navy implements protective measures

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intended to avoid , minimize , or

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mitigate environmental effects ,

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including reducing harm to marine life

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that may result from readiness

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activities . Also essential to military

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readiness is sustaining and improving

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the at-sea military range , a half a

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million nautical square mile area where

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maritime training and testing occur .

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Range sustainment may involve

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installing and maintaining undersea

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targets such as mine shapes for

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training purposes , as well as placing

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sophisticated systems such as

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hydrophones , underwater sensors , or

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remote data transfer devices

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temporarily on the ocean floor for

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accurate observations of anti-submarine

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exercise outcomes . Together , these

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activities enhance the combat

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effectiveness and safety of American

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sailors , marines , airmen , soldiers ,

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and coast guardsmen .

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The military services are dedicated to

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protecting the marine and coastal

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environments . The Navy is a world

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leader in marine species research and

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monitoring . Annually supporting major

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projects around the Mariana Islands to

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advance the best available science and

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incorporate it into environmental

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planning for at-sea training and

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testing . For years , the Navy has

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worked with the National Marine

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Fisheries Service on sea turtle

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monitoring off Guam and Saipan ,

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leading to a better understanding of

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sea turtle population levels , home

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ranges and habitat use , and how these

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factors may overlap in areas where

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naval activities occur . The military

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services understand that readiness

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activities can affect local marine

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habitats and wildlife . To protect

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marine species and reduce potential

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effects on the marine environment , the

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services implement mitigation measures ,

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such as using lookouts to monitor for

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marine species before and during

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military readiness activities ,

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reducing or stopping sonar use if

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animals are sighted within certain

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distances . And restricting activities

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in certain areas , such as avoiding

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humpback whale breeding grounds during

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mating season . The military also

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accounts for the numerous cultural and

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historic resources , such as shipwrecks ,

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planes , and other historic

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infrastructure submerged in the waters

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around the Mariana Islands when

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training and testing . The military

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works with local and federal partner

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agencies to map and preserve these

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artifacts , which include more than 30

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cultural and historic resources

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submerged in Apra Harbor , and remains

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of World War II aircraft and amphibious

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vehicles off Saipan's beaches . The

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military is responsible for ensuring

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the stewardship of underwater artifacts

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that are important to the people and

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history of the Mariana Islands , the

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United States , and the world . The

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military services , including the Coast

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Guard , recognize the importance of

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public access and sharing the seas and

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coastal areas of the Mariana Islands

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with the community . The armed services

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maintain access to ocean areas while

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always ensuring public safety .

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The military's successful natural and

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cultural stewardship programs

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illustrate that a balance between

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maintaining military readiness and

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protecting the environment can be

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achieved . Training , testing , and

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range modernization activities are

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critical to maintaining a capable and

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prepared joint force in the Western

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Pacific . The military's commitment to

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minimizing the effects of its

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activities on the natural and cultural

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resources in the Mariana Islands

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sustains this training mission long

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term . The military will continue to

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respect public health and safety and

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aid in preserving the island's unique

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ecology and history now and for future

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generations .