Nago environment study under way

Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima and local island leaders met Wednesday with Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma and told him they have accepted the preliminary survey of an environmental impact assessment off Cape Henoko, where an airfield will be built for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

At their meeting in the Defense Ministry, Nakaima and Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro told Kyuma the assessment had begun smoothly and they hoped to consult with the government further on the plan to move operations of the air station to Camp Schwab at Cape Henoko, a ministry official said.

On Tuesday, Nakaima gave the go-ahead for the survey, which will include putting equipment on the ocean floor.