NMC gets 10K for WWII ordnance research

The Northern Marianas College recently obtained a $10,000 donation from local firm All-Hazard Management Professionals, AMPRO, to extensively investigate and chronicle the effects of unexploded World War II ordnances in the CNMI.

According to NMC, the donated funds will enable the school to hire students who can undertake the field research necessary to identify and locate photographic evidence of persons injured or killed as a result of coming into contact with unexploded Ward War II munitions.

Students will also be involved in documenting oral histories from people who have either been victims of accidental detonations or inhalation of fumes from damaged projectiles.

The findings of all the studies will be used as a basis for a plan to remove World War II bombs and other explosives that pose a danger to the CNMI population and visiting tourists.

AMPRO is a service support company providing specialized consulting services in support of hazardous material, disaster preparedness and safety related projects.

They also deal with the disposition of unexploded ordnance and toxic waste, including trading of UXO units throughout Micronesia.

“We are extremely thankful for AMPRO’s generosity in funding this important project,” said NMC president Dr. Carmen Fernandez.

She said the funds provide a “considerable boost to the long term aim of identifying and ultimately eliminating all harmful, unexploded ordnance in the CNMI.”

NMC History instructor Sam McPhetres said the students have already found viable materials in the Historic Preservation Office, the CNMI Archives, the Emergency Management Office, and the American Memorial Park Visitor Center.

Under his direction, “The students will also be interviewing those who are aware of accidental deaths resulting from post war contact with World War II munitions,” McPhetres said.

Part of the community awareness involved with the project will be the compilation of a five-minute video, which will be shown at a national conference on toxic waste that is slated for May 2008. A full-length documentary will be produced later.

The final product of the students’ research work will be handed over to the Department of Public Lands, which is the lead agency coordinating the Brownsfields project for the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Other departments that are part of the project include the Division of Environmental Quality.

NMC is calling on all CNMI residents who wish to participate in the oral interview portion of the study to contact Sam McPhetres at 234-5498 or by email at samuelm@nmcnet.edu.