It is being evaluated that the government has overcome the first hurdle by forming an environmental impact assessment consultation request to normalize the USFK THAAD base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop said today (29th) at the National Assembly Defense Committee plenary meeting, "I remember that the Environmental Impact Assessment Council was formed on the 19th."
Earlier, on June 16, the Ministry of National Defense sent an official letter to local governments and environment-related organizations to recommend members to the organizations necessary to form the evaluation council in accordance with laws and regulations.
All other organizations have recommended members, but Seongju-gun failed to recommend a resident representative, so only one seat was vacant. It took about two months to complete the composition of the council.
As a result, the normalization of the THAAD base is expected to accelerate.
The general environmental impact assessment according to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act is an essential procedure for normalizing the THAAD base, but an assessment committee to carry out this has not been formed so far.
The Moon Jae-in government was going to start the general environmental impact assessment in 2019, but the council was delayed as residents opposed only making preliminary preparations for the castrate assessment.
As the evaluation council has been formed, it is now possible to confirm the evaluation plan and initiate investigations and evaluations.
In addition, if the council prepares a draft proposal through briefing sessions and public hearings to collect residents' opinions, and discusses it with the Ministry of Environment, the evaluation process is virtually complete.
The general environmental impact assessment usually takes more than one year, but the government is said to shorten the time required for this as much as possible.
The government has announced that it will also finish work on normalizing base conditions, such as guaranteeing ground access, as soon as possible.
Currently, the THAAD base is in a temporary operational position, so the US continues to urge our government to normalize it as soon as possible.
Minister Lee Jong-seop said, "It is clear that THAAD has difficulties because of its relationship with China. The fundamental reason for the deployment of THAAD is the North Korean nuclear and missile threat.
(Photo = Yonhap News)