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Another Tinian disaster: Unsafe dumpsite
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Posted on Nov 06 2006
Citing the government’s failure to close Tinian’s unsafe dumpsite in over eight years, Tinian Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas declared another state of disaster emergency on the island yesterday.
“Over the past eight years, the municipality has been warned by Commonwealth and federal officials of the dangers of above ground and below ground fires at the Tinian landfill, thereby resulting in the accumulation of carbon monoxide in the immediate surrounding areas,” said the mayor in the declaration.
He said this sorry state has also resulted in leachate pollution at Barcinas Bay, a premier fishing and diving spot on the island.
Further, he said the landfill, which is located adjacent to the Tinian airport runway, has hampered aircraft landing due to fires.
The mayor said the Federal Aviation Administration has already required the Commonwealth Ports Authority to close the landfill and relocate it away from the airport.
“As such, I find that the threat of the continued use of the Tinian landfill on the environment and the health and safety of the people and visitors of Tinian mandates the issuance of this declaration of state of disaster emergency,” said the mayor.
Right after signing the declaration, San Nicolas flew to the Philippines yesterday to check out the Subic bay breakwater and look for potential funding sources, said Tinian acting chief executive officer Russel Long in an interview yesterday.
He is temporarily taking the place of John Untalan, who is also said to be in Manila for a business conference.
San Nicolas, whose trip is funded by the local government, is set to return to the island this Saturday.
Long, the municipal budget and planning director, said the landfill project requires some $2.3 million.
“We are looking at different options. We’ve got to do everything to close the dumpsite and move it somewhere else,” said Long.
A month ago, San Nicolas declared a state of emergency on the island citing severe damage at the Tinian harbor and the collapsed water structures, which he said pose great risks to the public. The repair of the harbor will cost some $2.5 million.
