¹ These organizations and groups included leading Japanese and Okinawan environmental organizations such as the Nature Conservation Society of Japan, Okinawa Environment Network, former Japanese Prime Minster Yukio Hatoyama's think-tank East Asia Community Institute, Veterans for Peace Ryukyu-Okinawa, nursery schools, and religious organizations. Their diversity reflects the symbolic importance that the Okinawa dugong has attained over the years for the protection of the environment and the desire of the people of Okinawa for a peaceful life. See the letter here.

² Niezen and Sapignoli's understandings of international organizations as “palaces of Hope” are rather complex and nuanced. For example, they point out that contradictions and ambiguity are characteristics of these global organizations.

³ Both sides also agreed that the MMC, as a U.S. federal agency, could not directly comment on the Japanese government's EIA.

⁴ The Findings' descriptions of the importance of “off Kayo” for the dugong include “More recently, surveys conducted for the GoJ DEIS (Okinawa Defense Bureau 2009) resulted in 17 sightings of singles and one sighting of a pair between August 2008 and February 2009, mostly off Kayo. From March 2008 to February 2009, 57 sightings of single individuals, 27 sightings of pairs, and a single observation of a trio were recorded, again, mostly off Kayo and Kouri Islands.” (p.17)

⁵ Okinawa Defense Bureau and Idea Co. (2015). Schwab (H25) Sui-iki seibutsu to chosa Hokokusho [Schwab (H25) Aquatic Organisms Surveys: Report]. See Table 4.2.2-1 on p. 556 of the Report for details here. Accessed June 19, 2020. Unlike other reports by the Bureau, this particular report has never been available on the Bureau's website. It was obtained via the National Diet member Seiken Akamie.

⁶ Brownell Jr., R.L., Kasuya, T. & Marsh, H. (2019). Dugong dugon (Nansei subpopulation). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T157011948A157011982. Accessed on May 21, 2020. While the assessment of the Dugong in the Nansei region was made in August 2019, the listing on the Red List was made in December 2019.

⁷ Okinawa Defense Bureau (May 2020). Kojino jishi jyokyo nit suite shiryo 5 [Appendix 5, Report on the Progress of Construction Work]. Assessed on June 10, 2020.

⁸ For detailed description of the twenty-year history of the relationships among the Japanese government, the U.S. government, and the people of Okinawa regarding the construction of the base at Henoko-Oura Bay, see McCormack, Gavan (2020). “Okinawa: Japan's Prefecture that Keeps Saying No,” The Journal of Social Science. Vol. 87., pp. 143-173. Accessed on May 23, 2020.

⁹ The Okinawa Defense Bureau has not established the population size of the dugong in the waters of Okinawa. The Findings acknowledged that “the available data are sufficient to conclude that a remnant population of dugongs exists around Okinawa” while recognizing that “estimates made over the past thirteen years of the Okinawa dugong population range between 3 to 50 individuals.” (p.12)

¹⁰ Former Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima granted the land reclamation permit to the Okinawa Defense Bureau in December 2013 as he accepted the Bureau's EIA conclusion that the base would have “no adverse effects” on the environment and the Bureau would implement effective mitigation measures.

¹¹ The Okinawa Prefectural Government has translated the revocation documents into English to garner the U.S. government's understanding of the permit's revocation. For details of reasons for revoking the land reclamation permit, see Okinawa Prefectural Government (2018/2019). Appendix“ for Notice of Revocation of Approval for Reclamation of Public Waters. Accessed on May 23, 2020.

¹² See “EDITORIAL: Supreme Court ruling on Henoko project defies common sense,” The Asahi Shimbun, March 31, 2020. Accessed on May 23, 2020.

¹³ Okinawa Defense Bureau (2019). Futenma hikojyo daitaishisetsu kensetsu jigyo ni kakaru gijyutsu kentou kai dai ikkai shiryo [Technical Review Committee for Futenma Replacement Facility Construction: Appendix for the First Meeting]. Accessed May 20, 2020.

¹⁴ See “EDITORIAL: Henoko project clearly doomed; time to open talks with U.S.” The Asahi Shimbun, February 24, 2019. Accessed on May 20, 2020.

¹⁵ According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service in 2016, “Japanese and U.S. officials have said that construction of the FRF would be finished in April 2022 at the earliest. A slightly larger offshore runway project at the Iwakuni Marine Corps base in mainland Japan took 13 years to complete, but the Henoko land reclamation project could proceed faster than the Iwakuni project if Tokyo commits more administrative attention and resources to it.” (p.3). Source here. Accessed on May 20, 2020. Also, the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 2017 indicates that the completion timeline for the base was 2026 (p.13). See Marine Corps Asia Pacific Realignment: DoD should Resolve Capability Deficiencies and Infrastructure Risks and Cost Estimates. (2017). Accessed on May 20, 2020.

¹⁶ See “Editorials: Delays and cost overrun at Henoko,” The Japan Times, December 29, 2019. Accessed on May 19, 2020.

¹⁷ Okinawa Defense Bureau and Idea Co. (2015). Schwab (H25) Sui-iki seibutsu to chosa Hokokusho [Schwab (H25) Aquatic Organisms Surveys: Report]. According to the Report, on May 21, 2014, Dugong C was sighted swimming in the middle of Oura Bay and on November 14, 2014, Dugong A was sighted swimming from the outer Oura Bay to Kayo. These were the last dugong sightings the Okinawa Defense Bureau made in Oura Bay. Unlike other reports by the Bureau, this particular Report has never been available on the Bureau's website. It was obtained via the National Diet member Seiken Akamie. The excerpts from the Report pertaining to dugong activities have been uploaded here.

¹⁸ Okinawa Defense Bureau (2018). Heisei 29 nendo Futenma daitai shisetsu kensetsukoji ni kakaru jigochousa houkokusho [Fiscal Year 29 (2017) Post EIA Survey Report regarding Construction of Futenma Replacement Facility]. Accessed on June 1, 2020.

¹⁹ Okinawa Defense Bureau (2019). Heisei 30 nendo Futenma daitai shisetsu kensetsukoji ni kakaru jigochousa houkokusho [Fiscal Year 30 (2018) Post EIA Survey Report regarding Construction of Futenma Replacement Facility]. Accessed on June 4, 2020.

²⁰ Brownell Jr., R.L., Kasuya, T. & Marsh, H. (2019). Dugong dugon (Nansei subpopulation). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T157011948A157011982. Accessed on May 21, 2020. According to the IUCN Red List the Nansei region refers to a chain of islands that stretches from Amami Oshima Island of Kagoshima prefecture to Okinawa Island and its nearby islands of Okinawa prefecture. While the assessment of the dugong in the Nansei region was made in August 2019, the listing on the Red List was made in December 2019.

²¹ The Research Plan, not linked to the issue of base construction, was an outcome of a Sirenia Specialist Group workshop held in Mie, Japan. The U.S. Marine Mammal Commission provided financial support for the workshop. See Sirenia Specialist Group (2019). A Research Plan for the Japanese Dugong Sub-Population prepared by an expert workshop held at Toba Aquarium 24-26th September 2019. Accessed on June 04, 2019.

²² Okinawa Defense Bureau (May, 2020). Data Document 5 used in the 26^tt Meeting of the Environment Monitoring Committee held on May 15, 2020. Accessed on May 31, 2020.

²³ The Okinawa Defense Bureau uses a peculiar designation system to refer to the two underwater sound recording devices placed in Oura Bay. They are referred to as K-4 and K-5 and are regarded as part of the Kayo sound recording system. K-1, K-2, and K-3 devices are placed off Kayo. K stands for Kayo (Ibid:11)

²⁴ The last time the Okinawa Defense Bureau detected dugong calls was on March 14, 2019 in the waters near Kouri Island. The calls were considered as those of Dugong C, which was found dead on March 17, 2019. See Okinawa Defense Bureau (June, 2019). Data Document 5 used in the 20^th Meeting of the Environment Monitoring Committee held on June 3, 2019. Accessed on June 05, 2020.

²⁵ Dugong calls were detected in the middle of Oura Bay on February 11, 23, and 24, and on March 6, 9, 13, 25, and 29. Except for the detections made on March 6 and 25, all the other detections were made when no construction activities took place. See Okinawa Defense Bureau (May, 2020). Data Document 5 used in the 26^tt Meeting of the Environment Monitoring Committee held on May 15, 2020. Accessed on May 31, 2020.

²⁶ See Okinawa Defense Bureau (2014-2020). Minutes and Data Documents used in the Meetings of the Environment Monitoring Committee. Accessed on June 04, 2020.

²⁷ The dugong expert on the Environment Monitoring Committee made these comments in the 8th meeting of the Committee as other members of the Committee asked for his views on the fact that Dugong C had not been sighted since 2015. See Okinawa Defense Bureau (July, 2017). P.14-15 of the Minutes of the 8th meeting of the community held on July 7, 2017. Accessed on June 02, 2020.

²⁸ See Okinawa Defense Bureau (November 2019). The Minutes of the 22nd Meeting of the Environment Monitoring Committee held on November 12, 2019. Accessed on May 26, 2020.

²⁹ See Okinawa Defense Bureau (April 2020). The Minutes of the 25th Meeting of the Environmental Monitoring Committee held on April 10, 2020. Accessed on May 26, 2020.

³⁰ See the Hearing of the Dugong Case here. Accessed on May 10, 2020.

³¹ The Federal Court recognized the following five sources as the bases for the Findings (p.10): The Welch Report, The Jefferson Report, The Futenma Replacement Facility Bilateral Experts Study Group Report, The SuMMO Final Report, and The Japanese Government's Environmental Impact Statement/Assessment. Center for Biological Diversity et al. v. Esper, No. 18-16836 (9th Cir. 2020).

³² Shimazu, Yasuo (2008). “Futenmahikojo daitaishisetsu mondai no jyunen [Ten Years of Issues Regarding Futenma Replacement Facility].” Accessed on June 03, 2020.

³³ While the Bureau's EIA surveys for dugong feeding trails focused on seagrass beds located on the footprint of the construction site in Oura Bay, the Bureau did not conduct routine surveys on seagrass beds in other parts of Oura Bay. When the Bureau found 19 feeding trails in the seagrass bed in the inner Oura Bay area in August 2009 (also cited in the Findings, p.8), they were found “by chance” as part of a survey for other marine organisms for the EIA (p.6-16-141). See Okinawa Defense Bureau (2012). Futenma hikojyo daitai shisetsu kensetsu ni kakaru kankyo eikyo hyokasho no hoseigo no kankyo eikyo hyokasho [Final Environmental Impact Statement]. Accessed on June 6, 2020. Moreover, the Bureau did not set up passive sonar systems and underwater videos in Oura Bay, although they served as main survey tools in Kayo and Henoko (p. 6-16-22). See Okinawa Defense Bureau (2012). Futenma hikojyo daitai shisetsu kensetsu ni kakaru kankyo eikyo hyokasho no hoseigo no kankyo eikyo hyokasho [Final Environmental Impact Statement]. Accessed on June 6, 2020.

³⁴ In fact, the Findings recommended that “GoJ expand its current dugong monitoring program (monthly track line surveys) to include Oura Bay (especially the seagrass beds off the northeast shore of the base and those between the base and Kayo) (p.18).

³⁵ See the exchange between National Diet Councilor Yo-ichi Iha and Mr. Yasunori Nishida of the Ministry of the Environment on p.18 of the Minutes of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, House of Councilors (Vol. 16, May 24, 2018). Accessed on May 20, 2020.

³⁶ While Oura Bay and Kayo can be seen as a continuous coastal area stretching about 5 miles south-north, it comprises different marine environments. Oura Bay is characterized by underwater geographical and biological diversity, while Kayo is characterized by shallow water with sandy seafloor. While the terms, Oura Bay and Kayo, are often used to distinguish the two areas, there is no clear boundary between them. For discussion of the environment of Oura Bay, see Okinawa Prefectural Government (2018). Okinawa's Treasure, the World's Treasure: Let's Pass it on to the Future. Accessed on June 6, 2020.

³⁷ Okinawa Defense Bureau (2012). Futenma hikojyo daitai shisetsu kensetsu ni kakaru kankyo eikyo hyokasho no hoseigo no kankyo eikyo hyokasho [Final Environmental Impact Statement]. Accessed June 19, 2020.

³⁸ These sightings correspond to the Findings statement “More recently, surveys conducted for the GoJ DEIS [Draft Environmental Impact Statement] (Okinawa Defense Bureau 2009) resulted in 17 sightings of singles and one of a pair between August 2008 [2007] and February 2009 [2008], mostly off Kayo.” (p.8).

³⁹ These sightings correspond to the Findings statement “From March 2008 to February 2009, 57 sightings of single individuals, 27 sightings of pairs, and a single observation of a trio were recorded, again, mostly off Kayo and Kouri Islands. (p.8).

⁴⁰ Okinawa Defense Bureau (2012). Futenma hikojyo daitai shisetsu kensetsu ni kakaru kankyo eikyo hyokasho no hoseigo no kankyo eikyo hyokasho [Final Environmental Impact Statement]. Accessed on June 15, 2020.

⁴¹ Ministry of Defense (2020). Correspondence Document (dated June 18, 2020) submitted to National Diet Councilor Yo-ichi Iha.

⁴² See Okinawa Defense Bureau (2014~2020). The Minutes of the Meetings (1^st~26^th) of the Environmental Monitoring Committee. Accessed on June 6, 2020.

⁴³ See Jefferson T.A., Au W., Lammers, M., and Richie, M. (2013). Survey of the Marine Mammals of Okinawa (SuMMO) Project. Submitted to Naval Facilities Engineering Command NAVFAC Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, under Contract No. N62470-10-D-3011 CTO KB13 issued to HDR Inc., San Diego, California.

⁴⁴ See Onaga, Takeshi (2018). “Request for Consultation Regarding Okinawa Dugongs under the U.S. Historic Preservation Act.” Accessed on June 6, 2020. See also Tamaki, Denny (2020). “Request Letter Regarding the Protection of the Okinawa Dugong.” Accessed on June 6, 2020.