"A huge misunderstanding": Adelup official clarifies Tenorio-Terlaje dispute

Questions continue about who gets a seat at the table when federal officials discuss deep-sea mining on Guam. The issue came up after a closed-door meeting at Adelup with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, as an Adelup official now clarifies what he calls a huge misunderstanding.

Last week, federal officials met behind closed doors at Adelup to discuss plans to fast-track deep-sea mining near the Marianas, a move many on Guam say could harm the ocean and environment. While community members protested outside, another question emerged inside: who actually gets invited to these meetings?

Senator Therese Terlaje said she requested to attend but was not allowed to.  Acting Governor Josh Tenorio had strongly pushed back.  

"She has never requested– that is a lie," Tenorio said. Senator Terlaje…has anyone received a notification? Who did she ask?"

Bureay of Budget & Management Resources director Lester Carlson now says Terlaje did contact his office about attending. And the situation may have been a misunderstanding, saying, "It really was just a huge misunderstanding. Senator Terlaje was aware of the fact – because she did call me — the plan from day one was for BOEM officials were going to meet with the governor at 10am on the 25th and we would help them, we offered to help them set up meetings with elected officials and regulatory officials for an afternoon meeting. That was a meeting that I told her, as soon as we get the meeting squared away, I will relay the fact that she’s highly interested in attending that second meeting."

Carlson says the second meeting, where lawmakers and other stakeholders could have participated, was canceled just days before boem arrived. He said, "Was Senator Terlaje slated to be part of the original second meeting? The answer is yes. The Office of Insular Affairs made a decision not to hold a second meeting."

He says it was the federal government’s decision not to hold that second meeting at the last minute, and “nothing to do with anything petty or political.” But he notes that if the second meeting had happened, senators and other key agencies would likely have been included.

Carlson told KUAM News,"It’s just political protocol and the lieutenant governor was correct. He didn’t ask for the meeting. It’s them asking for the meeting with him. It’s not his place to invite other people when the meeting is with the chief executive."

Still, the situation highlights a broader question for the community: who represents the island in decisions that could impact its environment and economy? "There's so many things that we can't agree on, but we do universally agree that this seabed mining has the very high potential to adversely affect our ocean and our environment," he said.

Carlson says federal officials have indicated they plan to return to Guam for additional discussions, this time likely including a broader group of stakeholders.