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Govt issues Pagan mining permit to JG Sablan Rock Quarry
The CNMI government issued last seek a mining permit to allow businessman John T. Sablan and his JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. to conduct mining on Pagan Island for 20 years, according to attorney Michael Dotts.
Dotts, counsel for Sablan and JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc., disclosed to Saipan Tribune that on Wednesday, the new mining permit was recorded, giving JG Sablan Rock Quarry 20 years to mine on Pagan Island.
Dotts also disclosed that on Thursday, he and the CNMI government advised Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman of their settlement and the recording of the mining permit.
The lawyer said following the settlement and the recording of the permit, more than eight years of litigation in Superior Court has ended.
“JG Sablan is very pleased to have all the litigation over and to have the right to mine on Pagan Island again,” Dotts said yesterday.
Wiseman is handling over the legal action between JG Sablan and the CNMI government in the local court that began in 2006 when DPL terminated the company’s mining permit.
The parties also engaged in legal dispute in federal court arising from the mining permit issue.
The parties recently reached an agreement to settle all the lawsuits both in local and federal courts.
With the settlement, last month U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona dismissed Sablan’s and JG Sablan’s lawsuit against DPL.
Sablan and JG Sablan Rock Quarry reportedly reached a $4.8 million settlement with the CNM government.
Sablan has agreed to pay $4.8 million to the CNMI government. In exchange, the government will issue a mining permit to the company for Pagan.
The length of the permit will be for 20 years, with a $100,000 permit fee payable in 120 days from its execution.
