Bombs impede clearing of Puerto Rico dumpsite

Leveling the Puerto Rico dumpsite would not only be costly, but also dangerous due to “strong possibility” that military bombs and explosive ordnance are buried underneath the 50-foot high trash, according to officials.

This developed as the Solid Waster Task Force briefed members of the Legislature yesterday on the status of the Marpi landfill which is envisioned to replace and finally close the current dumping ground considered by many as an eyesore.

While the design work on the sanitary landfill is more than half complete the task force under Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan has yet to draw up a plan on what to do with the heaps of garbage in Puerto Rico.

More than 500,000 tons of trash are piled up as high as 50 feet in the coastal site just north of Garapan tourist district, and getting rid of these could cost the government between $50 to $100 million, officials said.

John Harder, solid waste manager with the Department of Public Works, expressed concern that aside from the costs, it could be dangerous in light of reports that U.S. military scraps were buried there decades ago.

Although the Puerto Rico site has been the dumping ground for the hundreds of tons of trash produced by residents and businesses on Saipan everyday since World War II, it is believed that old ammunition and other explosives as well as toxic chemicals may also be deposited there.

“Not only [clearing the dump] will take a lot of costs, there are so many issues that we can’t deal,” Mr. Harder told lawmakers in the briefing held at the House chamber. “Excavating all those materials could be costly and dangerous.”

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial had inquired about what the task force intends to do with the dumpsite, noting that the report on the Marpi project does not involve Puerto Rico’s closure.

Options

But Mr. Harder stressed the construction of the landfill is only the first phase of the project, adding that they are currently looking at various options to finally shut down the Puerto Rico site based on costs, time and logistics.

One will involve physically removing the volumes of rubbish heaps, but transferring them to the new landfill could fill almost six years-worth of dumping in the new site, according to the DPW official.

The best option will be to convert the area into a public park or recreational area, he said, although this could entail costs as much as $100 million. “Over the next two months, we will be looking at that option,” said Julie Sandvold, legal counsel for the Lt. Governor.

She underscored the need to look at various legal issues associated with the plan and to bring the matter to the community for a discussion because Puerto Rico’s closure will involve participation not only of the Legislature and the administration, but also the residents of the island.

Meanwhile, the Marpi project will need additional $5 million to purchase incinerator, the task force said. This is on top of the $17 million estimated budget for the design and construction of the landfill.

A request for proposal is expected to be issued this week for a construction management firm that needs to be in place when actual building of the project begins later this year. The design is set to be completed in August.

Mr. Harder disclosed permission from federal agencies, particularly the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Division and the Environmental Protection Agency to build the landfill in Marpi, is likely to be granted later this year.

“Every indication is that we are working on the same level right now. But there’s still a fairly time-consuming review process,” he told reporters in an interview after the meeting.

Although scheduled to be operational by end of 2000, the new sanitary landfill in Marpi has come to a halt in recent months due to slow permitting process of federal agencies.