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CNMI allocated $18.9M to address drinking water contaminants
Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan
The CNMI will be allocated $18.9 million from a grant program to address emerging contaminants, like Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in drinking water in the states and territories.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) disclosed in his e-kilili newsletter over the weekend that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday that $18,914,000 will be allocated to the Commonwealth for the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant program.
The funding is made available from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provides $5 billion in five years to address emerging contaminants like PFAS in public drinking water systems across the country, including the Marianas.
EPA administrator Michael S. Regan said this investment, which is allocated to states and territories, will be made available to communities as grants through EPA’s Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program and will promote access to safe and clean water in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities while supporting local economies.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $5 billion over five years to help communities reduce PFAS in drinking water.
Sablan said this initial funding allotment is for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
Sablan said grant funding can be used to prioritize infrastructure and source water treatment for pollutants, like PFAS and other emerging contaminants, to conduct water quality testing, and install necessary treatment solutions.
PFAS, a toxic class of chemicals linked to cancer and infertility, has created significant public health challenges across the country. PFAS chemicals have been commonly used because of their ability to repel oil and water and can be found in many items including nonstick products, paints, stains, cleaning products, food packaging, and firefighting foams.
In 2019, the CNMI government sued eight companies for allegedly making chemicals that later contaminated the CNMI’s drinking water and pose a threat to public health, the environment, and natural resources of water.
