‘Northern Islands not yet safe’

Citing a recent assessment, the Northern Islands remains unsafe for settlement and even visits amid potential threats of volcanic eruptions, said Saipan Rep. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero.

Guerrero, in an interview yesterday said that based on the U.S. Geological Services presentation at the lower chamber Friday, people in the Northern Islands would remain at risk unless necessary monitoring equipment—which requires up to $7 million—is installed there.

“During the presentation, the issue on public safety was raised, and USGS said they don’t feel that people should be there until the needed instruments are set up to detect volcanic movements,” said Guerrero.

Based on estimates, the lawmaker said that installation and operations of the equipment would not take place until two to four years.

He said the USGS would need $4 million to $7 million to get the project running, and $500,000 annual budget for maintenance.

The federal agency currently lacks the budget to carry out the plan.

During the presentation, the USGS asked the CNMI Legislature to help petition the U.S. Congress for fund allocation.

In relation, Guerrero said the House may adopt a resolution supporting the USGS project before the Congress.

House leadership spokesman Charles Reyes Jr. said, in a separate interview that, a number of House members expressed willingness to support the USGS.

“They’ve expressed interest to help because they know its significance to the islands,” said Reyes.

Guerrero said “it’s not just a local issue but an international issue” citing USGS findings that volcanic eruptions pose great risk to air traffic.

The USGS earlier said that there are some 25,000 flights flying over CNMI airspace in a year.

James E. Quick, PhD., USGS igneous petrologist and program coordinator also said that more than 1 million flights of large commercial aircraft that transit from Asia to Australia and New Zealand would be affected by eruptions in the Marianas

USGS cited that a small eruption of Anatahan in 2003 produced an ash cloud that disrupted regional and international air traffic on at least two days.

USGS said that assessing the hazards and monitoring the nine active volcanoes in the Northern Marianas would cost about $1.9 million per year for the first three years, $1.2 million in the fourth year, and approximately $500,000 per year eventually.