Community Briefs – June 8, 2018

Bill extending Guam’s H-2B visa cap exemption OK’d
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU) announced yesterday that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 5956, the Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act of 2018, which includes language that would extend Guam’s exemption from the national H-2B visa caps until 2029. A similar bill, S. 2325, was passed by the Senate on April 23, 2018. Bordallo cosponsored the earlier version of this bill (H.R.4869) and secured similar provisions for Guam in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (H.R.5515), passed by the House on May 24, 2018. “This [bill] is important to ensure that our local companies have access to H-2B laborers when our local workforce is unable to meet our island’s needs. I continue working in Congress to address Guam’s labor shortage, including in this year’s national defense bill. I look forward to seeing these important pieces of legislation signed into law by the President.” (PR)

Scheduled power interruption today
There will be a scheduled power interruption today, June 7, from 9am to 1pm to allow Commonwealth Utilities Corp. linemen to relocate three spans of primary lines and pole hardware to an adjacent location such that existing underground wastewater lines beneath these distribution lines can be accessible for repair. Power service to Chalan Kiya will be affected but not water wells. The W-5 wastewater lift station affecting the Chalan Laulau Middle Road, As Terlaje, San Jose, and Oleai areas will be affected. For more information, contact the CUC Customer Call Center at 664-4282. (PR)

CUC power interruptions tomorrow
There will be a scheduled power interruption tomorrow, June 9, from 5am to 10am affecting San Roque and As Matuis. The As Matuis water well will be affected, as well as all lift stations in As Matuis and San Roque.

There will be another power interruption that same day, from 7am to 11am, affecting the Chalan Antonio Road and Fina Sisu Lane. No water well or wastewater lift station will be affected.

The purpose of the power interruptions is to de-energize the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s primary lines to allow CUC and its contractor to safely replace three wooden poles with concrete poles. The project tasks are part of CUC’s ongoing Hazard Mitigation Project that entails the replacement of 787 wooden poles with concrete poles throughout Saipan. Of the 787 wooden poles to be replaced, 601 poles have already been made by CUC and its contractor. (PR)

Water outage in As Terlaje, Fina Sisu, As Lito tomorrow
There will be a scheduled water service interruption tomorrow, June 9, from 8am to 5pm in the following areas:

• Rasmu Lane (El Toro), As Terlaje
• Chalan Tun Apa, Fina Sisu
• West side areas of As Lito (Faha Place, Bayak Drive and Aplok Drive)

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s contractor, AIC Marianas Inc., will be eliminating the concrete valve vault, pipe and fittings on the existing 14-inch water distribution main line. After the eliminating process, a new pipe spool will be installed on the main line. Therefore, the water supply will be required to be temporarily terminated to perform the installation. As a result of the new installation, a more reliable water system will be provided to the community. Regular water service hours will resume soon after.

This project is part of the Northern Marianas College 1.0 MG tank replacement project and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (PR)

Water outage in San Vicente
There will be a scheduled water service interruption on June 13, from 8am to 5pm for the San Vicente area, specifically for customers residing in the following streets: Katupat Drive, Bentana Drive, Laulau Bay Drive, Hotdu Drive, and the lower portion of Katbon Road.

The purpose of the water service interruption is to allow Commonwealth Utilities Corp. personnel to perform repairs and overhauls of old fittings on the existing 4-inch pressure reducing valve. As a result of the replacement and overhaul, a more reliable water system will be provided to the community. Customers in the affected areas should expect restoration of water services soon after.

For more information, contact the CUC Customer Call Center (664-4282). (PR)