Ministry of Defense Henoko landfill adjusted to extend to about 10 years December 23 5:02
Over the relocation of the U.S. Army's Futenma base in Okinawa to Henoko, Nago City, the Ministry of Defense is making adjustments to extend the construction period, such as landfill, from the initial five years to approximately ten years. As a result, the time to return Futenma Air Base is expected to shift to the 2030s.
In the relocation plan of the U.S. Army's Futenma Base to Henoko, Nago City, the two governments decided that the rehabilitation plan compiled in 2013 would take five years to complete landfilling, etc. He said that it would be possible to return the Futenma base.
Reclaiming began late last year, due to opposition from Okinawa Prefecture, etc., but soft ground was found in more than 40% of the planned area, and the Ministry of Defense worked to improve the ground by driving in piles. We are considering to review the construction period because we are going to do it.
So far, the Ministry of Defense is making adjustments to increase the construction period to about 10 years. As a result, the time to return Futenma Air Base is expected to be significantly delayed in the 2030s.
However, Okinawa Prefecture has requested that landfill construction be stopped immediately, and there is a policy that the design will not be allowed for ground improvement work, and some view that the work will be further lengthened.