Under terms of a lease between the United States and theCommonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S.Department of Defense since 1971 has been conducting monthlybombing exercises on the uninhabited island of Farallon deMendinilla. The 206-acre island lies about 45 miles north ofSaipan. The marine surveywas conducted in July 1997. The islandpopulation of the Megapode is believed to have been extirpatedby the bombing. However, protected green sea turtles are knownto occur in surrounding waters.
Fishers claim that the bombing is affecting marineresources.
One commercial fisherman has complained that hisboat was almost hit during a Navy exercise a couple of yearsago. Although some nearshore areas werefound to contain high degrees of suspended sediment, aerialbombing cannot be assumed to be the primary cause. In addition,no impact from bombing was observed. In contrast, the mostprotected parts of the lee side of the island supported thehighest degree of coral growth. Just one observation of damagefrom bombing was observed, at the southernmost point of theisland, the report stated.