CUC to spend up to $1M for oil spill problem

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. will spend between $300,000 to $1 million to clean up spilled oil and prevent oil discharges at its Lower Base facility.

CUC executive director Anthony C. Guerrero, in an interview, disclosed that they have a budget to address the oil spill and have a request for proposals from interested companies in the region.

Guerrero said the cost varies depending on the type of technology that is being proposed.

He said they want to make sure that not only is it the best procedure that they can implement but that it also meets the requirements of the Division of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“It is something that has been lingering for years and it is something that we need to get done and we will get that done,” he said.

On Oct. 26, 2006, EPA ordered CUC to clean up spilled oil and prevent oil discharges at its facility and warned the utility agency that it will be fined $32,500 per day if it will not comply.

EPA directed CUC to immediately stop all oil discharges and take steps to prevent future spills at the agency’s Power Plants 1 and 2.

EPA gave CUC 30 days to submit a proposal and work plan for EPA approval to clean up the site and ensure there is no threat of oil discharge to the environment and from its drum storage area.

Guerrero said they already responded to EPA’s order and informed them that CUC is planning to deal with the issue.

“We are going to be working with a contractor to remove the oil out of the island. Right now we are just working out the logistics and the agreement to remove that oil,” he explained.

Aside from working with the people who are interested in removing the oil right now, Guerrero said that at the same time CUC is planning to have a sustainable program to address the used oil issue periodically.

He said the problem has not been addressed before because of funding issue as well as the type of technology to be used.

“Basically there’s a lot of interest in trying to take the used oil out of the CNMI. The problem is it has to be permitted. Where it goes is another issue with the regulatory agencies. Those things have to be basically worked out and both sides have to agree and it has also include the concurrence of EPA and DEQ,” Guerrero pointed out.