CNMI, feds have yet to seal mitigation bank agreement By MARIAN A. MARAYA

Natural resources conservation advocates yesterday expressed hopes ongoing discussions directed at stepping up preservation measures of the region’s ecosystem would “pressure” the federal government to expedite pending environmental concerns.

Pacific Basin Association of Conservation District President Patrick Calvo, during the 14th Annual PBACD Conference yesterday, said the conference is an effective venue where Pacific Islanders can identify pressing concerns that call for immediate solutions.

This remarks, after Mr. Calvo and other CNMI officials expressed optimism that the US Fish and Wildlife Service would finally form an agreement with the local government on the three-year-old Upland Mitigation Bank project.

Local residents yesterday aired concerns that the bank’s long delay is impeding prospective developers from pushing through with its expansion projects in lieu of a CNMI and a USFWS signed agreement.

Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Joaquin Tenorio disclosed his office has constantly been communicating with federal officials on the matter.

“There has been some progress. We’re doing everything we can to expedite this. We’re hoping to get the agreement signed within a short period of time,” said Dr. Tenorio.

In his presentation yesterday, Dr. Tenorio reported the necessary documents have been completed in draft form and have been submitted to the Service for review.

Once the CNMI and the Service agree on the terms, the Public Lands will then deed the Bank Land to DLNR and file the legal documents establishing Marpi at the northern part of Saipan as a conservation area, he explained.

Senator Pete P. Reyes also expressed frustration on the slow progress of the mitigation project.

“It has been three years since the bill on this has been signed into law. I hope this will be resolved soon,” said the chair of the Senate Committee on Resources, Economic Development, and Programs.

“But I think it’s commendable that the DLNR and USFWS have developed a good working relationship over the years,” he added.

The development of the Saipan Upland Mitigation Bank began in 1996 when the USFWS said it would begin enforcing the provisions of the Federal Endangered Species Act in the Commonwealth.

Mitigation or conservation banks are designed to enhance habitat protection for species that are threatened or endangered.

They provide alternative to the standard practice of having each developer or development project create and manage individual mitigation areas.

The 393-hectare facility will make it easier for developers to meet their mitigation obligations. Instead of making the developer responsible for all the biological and ecological aspects of the mitigation, the bank provides these services in exchange for a free paid by the developer, Dr. Tenorio explained.

Since 1996, DLNR has been working with the Service to develop the much awaited project.

When completed, the mitigation bank will make it easier for public and private development projects to meet the requirements of the ESA.

But the Service and the CNMI still need to agree on certain requirements concerning the bank and to develop a legal agreement that would officially establish the program.