The U.S. military wanted Japan to conduct an environmental impact assessment on an inland area in Okinawa Prefecture where construction of part of a replacement facility for a controversial U.S. base was being planned without public disclosure, an internal military document showed on Wednesday.
The U.S. military apparently feared an environmental impact assessment only on sea areas might draw further criticism on the controversial project. But the Japanese government rejected the proposal, according to the document recently obtained by Kyodo News.
"If no environmental impact assessment is complete U.S. Marine Corps may be held accountable for unintended consequences to environment and habitat as a result of construction and future operations," read the document, titled "Review Comments" for the facility to replace the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.