Marshallese community

The Runit Dome was constructed in 1979 to temporarily store radioactive waste produced from nuclear testing by the United States military during the 1950s and 1960s.

The Marshallese community raised concerns over damage to the dome after Typhoon Nangka hit in July causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure on the atoll.

Our correspondent, Giff Johnson says the team surveying the dome found the cracks have been developing over time.

The governor, Eloy Inos, says an extension to the deadline for submissions on the military's draft Environmental Impact Statement is necessary because of the impact of Typhoon Soudelor.

Mr Inos says with a territory-wide cleanup underway to restore essential services damaged by the typhoon last week the community is unlikely to have time to prepare submissions.

The US military plans to use the islands of Tinian and Pagan for live-fire missile training and amphibous landings as part of its expansion into the Asia-Pacific region.