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DLNR denies waiver claim on housing project
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Posted on Aug 17 2004
The Department of Lands and Natural Resources yesterday clarified that the Division of Fish and Wildlife has not waived its concern on the 50 homestead lots that would form part of the Plumeria Estates project.
DLNR secretary Richard B. Seman said that DFW “has not waived nor has it ever waived to anyone any of our wildlife concerns, especially with regard to endangered and or threatened species.”
This clarification came in view of Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s statement in a letter to the Marianas Public Lands Authority, saying that the division “has agreed to waive their concern on the adjacent homestead lots.”
DFW’s supposed waiver increased the number of available lots for the Plumeria Estates housing project in Koblerville from 78 to 128.
Seman said DFW did not issue a waiver but only agreed “to provide direct assistance in ensuring that critical areas within the proposed site are not disturbed.”
“DLNR and DFW will assess and determine which areas [should] be avoided, and provide the contractor with recommendation [through permitting conditions] on how to properly proceed with land-clearing,” Seman said.
He said the department will provide the housing development the same services it provided the adjacent Tottotville project. Those services, he said, include dedicated personnel, expedited review and assessment of the proposed site, immediate flagging of determined critical areas, and habitat mitigation, if necessary.
“DLNR and DFW will not allow this proposed project to proceed without first making certain that all, if any, wildlife concerns are in fact addressed accordingly. It is never our policy to prevent any development project from happening whatsoever,” Seman said. “Rather, it is our objective to ensure that all development projects occur with the least possible disturbance to our wildlife resources, especially those species that are listed as either threatened or endangered.”
The Plumeria Estates will be built near Tottotville Subdivision in Koblerville. A total of 128 houses with two-, three-, and four-bedroom units will be available to first-time homeowners at a low price.
