Firm allegedly creates illegal landfill

A construction company was caught creating an illegal landfill at its jobsite in a Koblerville residential area.

A visit to the site showed that Musung Corp. had dug a trench measuring about 20 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 4 feet deep, and dumped debris from an old structure into the hole, in violation of CNMI environmental laws.

Koblerville resident Cinta Kaipat, who lives next to the construction site, said Musung recently started demolishing a burnt-out house and garage at the place. The company was initially observed getting rid of debris by utilizing a dump truck, she said.

Last Friday, however, witnesses found workers digging a deep long trench and burying tins, rebars, and broken concrete on the ground.

“[We] couldn’t believe [our] eyes when [we] saw the back hoe compacting the debris into the trench and filing it up. The company decided to create their own landfill,” Kaipat said.

She added that the trench was created on government property located just outside the edge of the private property. The private lot belongs to Koblervillle residents Joaquin Delos Santos and Maria Celis, who recently leased the property to a Korean business interest.

A heavy equipment operator hired by Musung to demolish the structure and dispose of the debris, said the incident was a result of “a misunderstanding.”

The worker, who refused to give his name, said that, although he was originally working on the debris disposal, he had to delegate the job to a co-worker who apparently misunderstood his instructions and dug the trench.

The worker was found yesterday digging up the debris and placing them on a dump truck for delivery to the Marpi sanitary landfill.

Musung made the move following a visit by representatives of the Emergency Management Office and the Division of Environmental Quality.

Neither DEQ director John Castro nor environmental specialist Marvin Seman, who surveyed the site, could be reached for statement yesterday on whether or not Musung would be penalized for its violation, in view of the company’s efforts to correct the problem.

Kaipat, however, maintained that Musung should not be allowed to go scot-free.

“Musung’s president [Young Chul Lee] was here last Friday when this was going on. And he didn’t do anything to stop it. Besides, I don’t think the back hoe operator would just go in and dig up a trench if he was not instructed,” Kaipat said.

She also urged DEQ to look at the history of the construction company to see if it committed similar violations in the past.

“I hope this whole thing will not just end with a slap on the wrist. DEQ should go further than just making Musung clean it up. It is every investor’s obligation to know the law and to follow them,” she added.