FLASHBACK – November 29, 2011

EPA grants $1 million to improve drinking water[/B]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will make available $1,124,300 to improve drinking water system infrastructure in the CNMI, according to Division of Environmental Quality Director Ignacio V. Cabrera. Mr. Cabrera said the funding comes from money the U.S. Congress authorized under the 1996 amendments to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The purpose of the funding is to improve compliance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations or to otherwise further the health protection objectives of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

Federal and local agencies will begin gathering land crab samples on Dec. 11, 2000 as part of an in-depth study to determine the extent of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination. Division of Environmental Quality Director Ignacio V. Cabrera said a workplan will be drafted by both the local and federal agency representatives. Aside from DEQ, other agencies involved are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Public Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The community will be represented by the Tanapag Action Group in the survey. EPA and ATSDR have chosen five locations for the land crab sampling to get a more diverse population.

Transition members check govt agencies[/B]

The transition panel yesterday started sorting documents and interviewing government workers to collate all necessary records, as the December 14 deadline nears. Fifteen days before the deadline, members of the transition committee started visiting different offices and departments. Yesterday, different transition sub-committees checked on the CNMI Governor’s Council for Developmental Disabilities, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, the Governor’s Legislative Review, the NMI Retirement Fund, and other divisions under the Office of the Governor. The teams also asked for reports and records of the said programs.

Senate President Paul A. Manglona expressed support yesterday for Sen. David M. Cing’s call for incoming senators to take a drug test as part of the process of establishing their credentials before their respective inaugurations in January. He remained noncommittal, though, when asked whether he has already made any decision on who will chair the credentials committee. Cing had expressed his desire to chair that committee. Manglona said the issue of drugs is a real concern these days due to its deleterious effect on the individual and the community. “It’s a serious concern and, obviously, Senator Cing wants to make sure that we practice what we preach. He has been talking to me about this-making the drug test a requirement before any senator is sworn in-and I support him on that,” he said.

Guerrero quits as CIP coordinator[/B]

Newly hired Capital Improvement Project coordinator for Public School System Frank Guerrero has stepped down from his post amid talks concerning the funding for his employment. “I’m no longer there. I turned it down,” said Guerrero, who is also the current chairman of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Board of Directors. He did not elaborate. Guerrero made the statement a day after he attended the regular meeting of the Board of Education Monday afternoon as the Governor’s CIP consultant for PSS. In an interview, Guerrero said there was still some $11 million unexpended CIP fund for schools.

The Commonwealth Ports Authority will ask the government for funding to cover the expenses and cost of operating the Tinian and Rota airports. Port officials said they will step up their lobbying efforts with the Legislature and the Babauta administration to finance the operations of the two airports. Port officials said the move would cushion the declining revenues posted by the Saipan International Airport, which has been subsidizing the two airports for several years now. By securing operational funds from the government in fiscal year 2003, port officials said the Saipan airport would be able to focus on its own expenses and operational costs in the wake of the low traffic haul posted in FY2002.