The director of the military build-up on Guam says the government is pleased the United States navy has changed its plans to build a firing range complex on land that is historically significant to local people.
Public opposition to a range near Pagat prompted strong public opposition and the new plan proposes establishing the complex within the confines of the existing airforce base.
Mark Calvo says before the final decision on the new range option was made the navy had designed a facility that allowed 24-hour access to the Pagat village.
"We thought that the new options being evaluated would choose again the Pagat area. We were quite surprised and pleasantly surprised that they had chosen another option."
Mark Calvo says a draft environmental impact statement on the firing range is expected to be released for public comment by March next year.
