Okinawa governor approves landfill to relocate U.S. base
Last edited Mon Dec 30, 2013, 05:37 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: Japan Times
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on Friday approved landfill work to relocate the U.S. military’s Futenma base within his prefecture, reversing his previous policy of trying to move the base out of Okinawa, a senior prefectural official said.
The decision marks a major breakthrough in the stalled relocation of the base, after years of political maneuvering amid stiff local opposition to a 1996 agreement between Japan and the United States.
The central government has called on Okinawa to accept the construction of a replacement facility in an offshore area in Nago, a plan mapped out in 2006, to move the air station from a densely populated area in Ginowan.
The central government had been seeking the governor’s approval before the mayoral election in Nago in January.
Read more: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/12/27/national/okinawa-governor-approves-landfill-to-relocate-u-s-base/