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DOJ: CUC remains deficient
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. obtained U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval for a number of drinking water and wastewater projects, but remains deficient in a number of areas critical to the utility, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Bradley R. O’Brien, a lawyer for the DOJ Environmental & Natural Resources Division Environmental Enforcement Section, said that CUC is experiencing substantial and costly drinking water loss, leaks, inadequate metering and billing of its customers, and not developing maintenance manuals.
This were underscored in the U.S. government’s January 2018 status report submitted yesterday before the U.S. District Court for the NMI.
Citing EPA inspector John Tinger’s declaration, O’Brien said that apart from addressing some vacancies and the submission of the draft master plan in June 2015, CUC submitted only one stipulated order 1 requirement for EPA approval since November 2014.
Stipulated order 1 focuses on drinking water and wastewater issues and the restructuring of CUC’s organization.
O’Brien said that CUC must commit to the recommendations identified in the master plan.
He said vacancies in key management positions over the years have impacted progress on may stipulated orders 1 and 2 requirements—although CUC eventually filled the top positions other than the chief engineer position.
Stipulated order 2 focuses on oil issues and also applies to oil spills and the remediation of the contaminated power plants.
With a new management in place, O’Brien emphasized that the timelines and plans to address the remaining stipulated orders 1 and 2 requirements must be re-established.
He said that much progress occurred in 2017 on improving CUC’s oil infrastructure such as the repair of Tank 103 and secondary containment, thanks to the assistance of an Engineering and Environmental Management Company.
Tank 103, an aboveground tank, stores diesel for electric power production at CUC Power Plants 1 and 2 in Lower Base.
A status conference later this month in federal court should be used to ensure future progress without delays in completing projects, O’Brien said.
