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Drydocking project gets conditional OK
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Posted on Jul 17 2004
The Coastal Resources Management Office has approved with conditions a coastal permit for the drydocking of a vessel at the Saipan seaport.
The permit was given to Pacific Subsea Saipan Inc. to drydock M/V Crystal II for maintenance and repairs at the South Seaplane Ramp Commercial Port in Lower Base.
In granting his approval, CRM director Joaquin Salas included certain conditions “to avoid direct and significant impacts on the Commonwealth’s coastal resources and whenever possible, to mitigate foreseeable impacts.”
The regulatory agency prohibited the disposal of paint, oil or other chemicals in the ocean or around the proposed project area, as well as the use of tributyltin-based antifouling bottom paint.
All materials, including any sandblasting residue scraped or removed from the boat should be swept up, collected, and properly disposed of in a 55-gallon drum on a daily basis, CRM said. The drum should be disposed of with the advice of the Division of Environmental Quality and treated as a hazardous substance, it added.
Further, CRM directed Pacific Subsea not to remove paint in the rain in order to avoid runoff to the lagoon.
The drydocking company was also told to ensure that absorbents are readily available at the project site for use in case there is spillage.
“Projects [should] be undertaken and completed so as to maintain and, where appropriate, enhance and protect the Commonwealth’s inherent natural beauty and natural resources, so as to ensure the protection of the people’s constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment,” Salas said.
He added that upon the completion of the drydocking, the site should be restored to its original condition by hauling all non-hazardous debris to the designated public dump and not by burning them.
