Unique Challenges in the Guam Residential Sound Solutions Program Presented by: Frank F. Blas Chairman of the Board.

Unique Challenges in the Guam Residential Sound Solutions Program

Presented by:Frank F. Blas

Chairman of the Board

Guam is an unincorporated territory of the U.S.

Southernmost island in the Marianas island chain

230 square miles

Population of 170,000

Overview

Largest airport in the Micronesia region

Over 2.5 million passenger movements per year

Overview

Gateway to Micronesia

Bridge from U.S. to Asia

First of its kind in our region

Education and Community Acceptance

Sound Solutions Program

Overview

Approx. 500 homes

Approx. 200 multi-family

7 - 10 year program

Pilot Phase (40 homes)

$45K in treatments

Phase I (150 homes) in 2008

Residential Sound Solutions Program

Guam is located in “Typhoon Alley”

31 typhoons each year in the region

Impacted by 20 typhoons since 1970 and devastated by 6 since 1960

Designing for Typhoons

Aluminum windows must meet structural and windborne debris requirements.

Windborne Debris: Window shall conform to protocol requirements as they relate to a basic wind pressure of 60 psf (TAS-201, -202, and -203, or ASTM E1886 and ASTM E1996)

Water Leakage: None, when measured in accordance with ASTM E331.

Storm shutters shall be fabricated and reinforced to withstand a minimum wind load 115 pounds per square foot.

Designing for Typhoons

Doors shall meet structural and windborne debris requirements.

Wind Borne Debris, Large Missile Impact Test Procedures, Static Air Pressure, Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading (TAS-201, -202, and -203)

Storm shutters shall be fabricated and reinforced to withstand a minimum wind load 115 pounds per square foot.

Designing for Typhoons

Adapt our homeowner communication to focus on families

Common need for foreign language translation

Cultural Significance of Land

Strong cultural underpinning to land

Communal, “family owned,” and passed from generation to generation

Guam law - Administrative Adjudication Act (“AAA”)

All forms, including the Avigation Easement must proceed through legislative approval prior to public use

Easements are not a mandatory AIP requirement, but are mandatory under Guam law

Guam Law - Administrative Adjudication Act

May 2000: airfield was converted from joint-use as NAS Agana to civilian use

Presence of former military housing units within DNL 65 dB

Government of Guam ancestral lands transfer

Challenging Land Use Issues

Challenges of a new Program

Designing for “Typhoon Alley”

Cultural sensitivities

Interplay of Federal regulations and Guam law

Military land transfers and resultant non-compatible residential land uses

Conclusion

Thank you

&

Si Yu’us Ma’ase!