| U.S. Public Law 108-88, which approves the Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), states that Federal agencies (with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specifically mentioned) may provide technical assistance to the RMI, "to the extent such assistance may be provided to States, territories, or units of local government. During FY 2005, the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office worked with the U.S. Army and the RMI to facilitate a joint U.S. Air Force - U.S. Department of Energy national security project at the Reagan Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll.
In addition to numerous Best Management Practices designed specifically to reduce project-related impacts to terrestrial and marine fish and wildlife, compensation for project-related losses, including potential sea turtle nesting and coral reef habitats, was required. After several months of discussions, the Army agreed to establish the Enewetak Conservation Area (ECA) for the long-range protection of an entire ecosystem within the atoll.
Enewetak is a 15-acre lagoon islet that is a documented sea turtle nesting site and contains a mature littoral forest, which supports the largest numbers of nesting seabirds of any of the 11 islets leased by the U.S. Army at Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA). A wide range of coral reef habitats supporting diverse assemblages of marine species extends 300 meters from shore in all directions and is included within the ECA.
As intended, the ECA will replace the resource losses associated with the current project and serve as a mitigation bank of sorts to provide the means of replacing resource losses from future projects. The ECA will also serve as a focus for education, non-consumptive recreation, and other passive activities that are compatible with conservation. ECA management will be a joint responsibility of USAKA and RMI in coordination with the Service.
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