DOI awaits Pagan study grant application

The Department of the Interior is just awaiting any grant application from the CNMI for the proposed feasibility study on pozzolan mining at Mt. Pagan.

When asked, DOI Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs David Cohen said the department would look at such application, but he is personally not aware if it has been submitted.

“ I don’t know if our officers received it. We would certainly [entertain it] and give it consideration,” he said.

Usually, he said the department would see if it has funding to support such project.

Northern Islands Mayor Valentin Taisakan had earlier said his office would submit a grant application with DOI for the conduct of such a feasibility study.

Taisakan, who mentioned the grant application in relation to his campaign for the termination of an existing Pagan mining permit, said the permit clearance is necessary to give way for an economic study on the pozzolan and basalt deposits on Pagan.

He had said such study should be carried out first before any mining permit is issued to any company.

“ We want to know the real quantity of pozzolan and the viability of the project. Right now, we don’t have our own data,” said Taisakan.

He said reports about the 200 million metric tons of pozzolan, a rare kind of volcanic ash that is used as a cement additive, are nothing but claims by a private company.

“The government doesn’t have its own study. How do we know if these figures are correct or not?” he asked.

A proposer, Azmar International, had cited a previous research it conducted in the area of an estimated 200 million metric tons of pozzolan that can be mined on the island for over 40 years.

Taisakan also reiterated his position for the immediate termination of the license of an existing commercial mining operator over its reported violation of contract terms.

The mayor earlier said that he was “not comfortable” discussing mining opportunities at Mt. Pagan with foreign investors “while the permit [of J.G. Sablan] is still active.”

The mayor earlier cited findings from the Office of the Public Auditor indicating that J.G. Sablan “is in serious breach of the terms and conditions of the permit agreement for many years now.”

J.G. Sablan, however, has communicated recently with the MPLA board, expressing its interest to continue the project.

MPLA said it is taking due diligence in reviewing the proposals to ensure the success of the project.