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Pagan task force now being formed
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Posted on Jan 06 2005
The task force created to study mining opportunities on Pagan may not have its first meeting until March, the group’s leader said.
Task force chair Nicolas Nekai, who is also a member of the Marianas Public Lands Authority, said he is still in the process of getting in touch with various groups and agencies that may be interested in becoming part of the task force.
So far, he said, he has contacted only the Carolinian Affairs Office. Next on his list are the Northern Islands Mayor’s Office and the watchdog group PaganWatch, among others.
Nekai also bared plans to lead a local delegation to a Las Vegas expo on concrete materials in February. He said he looks forward to learn more about pozzolanic ash and establishing a network of contact persons in the construction industry at the trade show.
Each member of the task force is expected to fund their participation to the group, Nekai said.
“The task force will probably have our first meeting in March. By that time, we should be able to discuss our parts in the task force, as well as particular guidelines we have to follow,” Nekai said.
The MPLA board of directors approved the creation of the task force on Dec. 5, shortly after it junked the application of Azmar International to mine and extract pozzolan from Pagan.
The group is tasked to seek assistance from the U.S. Geological Survey to determine the actual quantity and quality of pozzolanic ash available on Pagan. It is also expected to find a suitable investor who can extract and market the material, which is a sought-after additive to cement.
The MPLA board expressed hope that, with the study to be undertaken by the task force, Public Lands would be in a better position to decide the terms and conditions under which to allow an investor to mine Pagan.
