Teno intervenes in DEQ, AGO feud

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has taken steps to patch up differences between Assistant Attorney General Murphy Peterson and the Division of Environmental Quality that erupted over handling of the issues surrounding the polychlorinated biphenyl contamination in Tanapag.

He said he wants the disputes resolved in order not to jeopardize the CNMI government’s efforts to address the health and safety concerns of the community.

“I firmly believe that all the agencies should work together and see what we can do to resolve this issue,” Mr. Tenorio said in an interview yesterday.

“My major concern is that I want to make sure that the health and safety of our community and other areas are protected,” he added.

The local chief executive met the other day with DEQ Director Ignacio V. Cabrera who sought his intervention to press a replacement for Mr. Peterson as part-time legal counsel for the division.

Mr. Cabrera has claimed the attorney has already caused delays in the issuance of an administrative order and drafting of regulations that DEQ is supposed to carry out.

Although he asked Mr. Tenorio to retain Mr. Murphy as counsel in charge for the PCB contamination, the move apparently was prompted by the squabble over the issue.

Documents released by the government lawyer have accused DEQ of being uncooperative and ignoring the advise of the Attorney General’s Office.

Mr. Murphy has maintained this unduly increases the liability of the governor and the Commonwealth in the PCB problem in Tanapag, while raising issue of conflict of interest against DEQ since it is being funded by the federal government.

But Mr. Cabrera has defended the agency, noting the funding from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for his salary and other employees does not compromise in any way their job with DEQ.

According to the governor, he has yet to meet with Mr. Murphy to find out his side of the story and so, he does not have any decision whether to assign another legal counsel for DEQ.

He said his administration is working very closely with the agencies concerned, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, DEQ and the AGO to seek solutions to the contamination problem.

“I want this issue [on their differences] resolved,” added Mr. Tenorio.

The AGO has already warned the EPA Region IX that it will take legal action against the federal agency if it fails to order the Department of Army to post signs and fence the 18 areas in the village as safety measure.

Mr. Peterson said the CNMI government will not hesitate to impose a fine of $25,000 per day for every violation in accordance with existing laws if EPA ignores the directive.

Island leaders and Tanapag residents have blamed the federal government for its failure to immediately remedy the environmental and health concerns brought about by highly-toxic waste left behind by the U.S. military here.