Okinawa launches undersea survey for US base site

NAHA, Japan (PNA/Kyodo) - The Okinawa prefectural government on Monday began an underwater survey to check the condition of coral reefs in waters off the planned construction site of a U.S. military base, planning to revoke its drilling work permission if damage is confirmed.

The Okinawa government had been seeking to conduct the survey since February as it believes coral reefs outside designated working area have been damaged by concrete blocks placed during a drilling survey for landfill work by the local bureau of the Defense Ministry.

A total of 15 Okinawa government officials in three boats left in the morning for waters off Henoko area of Nago, where Tokyo plans to build a base to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma air station from a densely populated area of Ginowan in the prefecture against staunch local opposition.