US Senate panel asked to support Kilili’s Rota national park bill

Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota) has asked U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Jeff Bingaman and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski, along with 20 other senators, to support a bill authorizing the Interior secretary to study archaeological, historical, and natural resources on Rota for inclusion in the National Park System.

H.R. 1141, introduced by Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP), passed the U.S. House in January and is now before the Senate.

“I am writing this letter to respectfully seek your consideration and support of H.R. 1141 for the conduct of a suitability and feasibility study of prehistoric, historic and primary limestone forests on the island of Rota,” Santos said in individual letters addressed to U.S. senators, copies of which were provided to the media yesterday.

Sablan, in a separate letter, asked the CNMI Legislature to let the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources know of their unified support to H.R. 1141.

“I hope that you and the rest of the Rota Legislative Delegation-indeed the entire Legislature, if you can organize it, will make your support of H.R. 1141 known to Chairman Jeff Bingaman, Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski, and the other members of the Committee,” Sablan said in a letter to CNMI Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota).

While there has not been any resolution from the House or Senate on the bill, Santos has written to the U.S. Senate panel reviewing the bill.

Santos, in her letter, said Rota has the largest-among islands in the Marianas-repository of prehistoric, historic, and intact primary limestone forests that are in critical need of preservation.

She said preservation of these important areas through the establishment of a national park will greatly assist in the protection of the native cultural heritage and serve as critical habitat for native endangered flora and fauna “for which the American people and our future generations may enjoy.”

“Our past and present legislative delegations and people of the island of Rota have supported and are enthusiastic about the idea of establishing a national park on the island to protect the remaining remnants of our cultural heritage and native wildlife. With this is mind, the Rota Legislative Delegation and people of Rota appreciate your taking the time to consider this important matter and kindly ask your support and passage of H.R. 1141, which would help us realize one of the largest National Park units in America’s westernmost frontier in the Northwestern Pacific,” Santos added.

On March 15, 2011, the CNMI Senate president wrote a letter supporting the bill when Sablan introduced it.

A 2005 Department of the Interior field survey found that the Monchon Latte Stone Village, the Chugai Pictograph Cave, and other ancient sites on Rota have national significance and should be protected.