EPA ‘story map’ with response activity data now online

The status of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s response actions in the CNMI following Super Typhoon Yutu are now available online at www.epa.gov/typhoonyuturesponse.

This “story map” includes EPA actions as well as maps and photos.

EPA continues to assess and remove oil and hazardous waste on Saipan and Tinian to reduce risks to public health and the environment.

In addition, CNMI agencies are conducting curbside pickup of hazardous materials from residential properties, and public dropoff locations also continue to be open for items such as paints, solvents, herbicides, e-waste, appliances and other goods.

EPA Pacific Southwest regional administrator Mike Stoker will visit Saipan later this week to meet with local officials and tour typhoon response operations.

Along with EPA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, other disaster response agencies working with EPA include the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, and the Mayor’s Offices of Saipan and Tinian.

EPA’s activities include collecting, testing, shipping and disposing of hazardous materials such as damaged electric transformers, household hazardous waste, electronic waste (e-waste) and white goods such as refrigerators and air conditioners.

In addition, EPA is helping local agencies sample drinking water and providing technical assistance for wastewater operations and water supply restoration.

Curbside pickup
The pickup of household hazardous waste (paint, solvents, pesticides, other chemicals), appliances and electronics will continue on Saipan. 

Place your items curbside and keep separate from green waste, tin, and construction materials. 

The last day to put materials out for pickup on Saipan is Dec. 24.

Items will be picked up by village, with crews coming to each area starting from the south and ending in the north, repeating these pickups for a total of three sweeps of the island. 

Curbside collection has been completed on Tinian. 

Drop-off locations on Saipan is at the Lower Base Transfer Station, from now until Jan. 15, 7:30am to 4:50pm, seven days a week;and at the As Gonno staging area (Kobler airfield, near Tottottville), from now until Jan. 15, 8:30am to 4pm., seven days a week.

For more information on household hazardous waste, electronic waste or white goods disposal, contact the CNMI BECQ at 664-8500.
 
Status of EPA actions
EPA is working with CUC on transformer collection. To date, 640 transformers have been collected on Saipan and 171 on Tinian. EPA is collecting and removing household hazardous waste such as paints, cleaners, solvents, oils, batteries, herbicides, pesticides, and e-waste, and has so far collected a total of 8,535 items and 8,627 items from facilities such as schools and public buildings on Saipan and Tinian. (PR)