Environmental and cultural preservation groups have filed a lawsuit opposing the US military's decision to conduct live-fire training on islands in the Northern Marianas.
The four groups also formally opposed the permanent relocation of thousands of US Marines to Guam.
The US Department of Defense plans to use Tinian for live-fire ranges and to lease the entire island of Pagan for training purposes.
The lawsuit against the US Department of Navy and the Navy Secretary, and the US Department of Defense and the Defense Secretary was filed by the Tinian Women's Association, the Guardians of Gani, PaganWatch, and the Center for Biological Diversity in the federal court in Saipan.
The complainants wanted a declaration that the US agencies are violating the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.
The groups said the military cannot rely on a legally deficient Final Environmental Impact Statement and the Single Environmental Impact Statement when deciding on the relocation of the marines from Okinawa.
Pagan Island Photo: Supplied