The Governor of Guam Eddie Calvo has called on United States federal authorities not to overlook the worst case scenario of mass radioactive contamination in Guam from Japan.
Guam is about 2,700 kilometres from the quake-stricken nuclear power plant at Fukushima and the governor says he's been assured by authorities the risk to the territory is minimal.
The governor is confident Guam has the tools to monitor air quality, cargo and mail from Japan at present but he's also told state authorities Guam would need more assistance in a worst case scenario.
"We do have within our local assets the ability for decontamination and quarantine for a small and a limited number of individuals that may be contaminated. As for mass decontamination and quarantine that was the concern that we had."
Mr Calvo says the withdrawal of one thousand Japan-based American sailors to Guam because of the disaster has highlighted the territory's strategic importance for the United States.
