Aguiguan Island
Aguijan or “Aguigan” Island is a small, uninhabited island located 5 miles southwest of the island of Tinian at 14°51’N, 145°33’E with a land area of 2.74 square miles and is the 9th largest island of the Mariana Islands archipelago. In the past, the island has been inhabited by people during the Japanese Administration (circa 1919-1945), due to the utilization of the land for an extensive sugar cane plantation. On island, there are various facilities constructed with the purpose to support the sugar cane crop cultivation. These facilities were that of housing, water catchments, storage, and a dock for offshore loading of sugar crops onto transport ships. On June 11, 1944 at the onset of WW II, preliminary aerial bombing began in the Marianas by the U.S. forces. Given the close proximity to Saipan and Tinian, Aguijan was most likely a subject target during the bombing. At present time, the island is uninhabited, but has an over population of feral goats, hence the name “Goat Island”. Post-Japanese era, the island has since been uninhabited by humans and is largely overgrown and undeveloped. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment was conducted in July 2014 by Allied Pacific Environmental Consulting (APEC). The report indicates that there were unexploded ordinance (UXO) encountered on island during a site reconnaissance on July 25th, 2014. The Phase I ESA for Aguijan Island was completed in December 2014.
Category: Brownfields
Coordinates: 14°51’N, 145°33’E
Island: Saipan
Village: N/A (Aguiguan Island)
Response Status: EPA Eligibility Determination Checklist approved on April 23, 2014; Phase I ESA Completed in 12/29/14 ;
Land Use Restrictions:
Institutional Control: None
Responsible Party: Unknown
Enforcement Authority: Non-Enforcement Project
Project Lead: DEQ
Property Status: Public Land
Date Entered into Public Record: April 23, 2014