Defensive Sciences
The U.S. government is modernizing its nuclear weapons and replacing old weapons with new ones at the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. It is unclear how many residents are aware of this and understand the potential risks.
Introduction
This is the third episode of the podcast series “Missiles in Our Area,” which discusses how the Air Force is coming to our region to present the new missile project and how this fits into the historical relationship we have with the U.S. government.
Environmental Impact
The U.S. Air Force is required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the potential effects on the environment and humans from deploying the long-range ballistic missile system “Sentinel.” This aims to allow the public and other stakeholders to comment on the plan and the associated analyses and consider all possible alternatives.
Public Meeting
The Fort Berthold area was chosen as the first location where the Air Force would present its report at a public meeting and gather public comments on the record. This was an opportunity for the Air Force to communicate with the MHA Tribe and explain the military branch’s plans and what it means for the reservation.
Public Testimonies
However, the public meeting was not useful in the intended sense. No one was properly informed, and no one could give the testimony they wanted to give. They did not have a clear picture of the situation due to inadequate preparation. Logan Davis was the only one who provided his testimony at the meeting.
Ongoing Public Testimonies
Jerry Roth Birds Bell Ford also spoke at the meeting. Jerry suggested developing a permanent partnership with the tribal council itself and higher-level representatives. Despite the last-minute change in the actual meeting location with the tribe, Major General Michael Loh, commander of the Twentieth Air Force, came to the reservation to express his gratitude to the tribe for their attendance.
Recommendations
A programmatic agreement was signed between the Air Force and the MHA Tribe Chief six months after the visit of the Major General. This agreement facilitates the exchange of historical and cultural information relevant to the sites that may be affected by the missile modernization program, which will include the deployment of Sentinel and “decommissioning and disposal of the Minuteman III long-range ballistic missile system.”
Conclusion
This issue raises many questions about the necessity of informing tribal members about potential risks associated with living near nuclear missiles. Good communication and transparency between the Air Force and the tribe are crucial to ensure the safety of the population and the environment.
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