The United States military is eyeing leasing all or a large part of Pagan Island in the Northern Marianas as part of its plans to develop live fire training facilities in the CNMI.
The scheme would also involve the use of Tinian island.
The development of these areas could begin by 2017.
Under the plan Tinian would house up to 300 US Marines but the training areas could be adapated to accommodate up to 1000 troops.
The executive directior of US Marine Forces Pacific, Craig Whelden, says the military is at the beginning of the planning process, so there are a lot of uncertainties at the moment.
