Company in illegal dumping fined $5K

The Division of Environmental Quality has penalized a construction company for illegal dumping activities in Koblerville late last year.

According to DEQ, Musing Corp. was fined a total of $5,000 for illegally burying debris, an action observed by a resident who reported the incident to the Emergency Management Office.

On Dec. 24, 2004, the company was ordered by DEQ to cease work at the site. The company then removed all illegally dumped materials and disposed of them.

DEQ indicated that on Dec. 27, personnel from its Waste Water Branch conducted an investigation on the matter and the company was then informed of the violations.

Two administrative orders were filed and within days, the Attorney General’s Office determined the fine provisions and penalties.

Musung Corp. was found to be in violation of Condition 22 of the Earth Moving and Erosion Control permit, which states that all unused materials must be removed and disposed of at the Marpi landfill or a DEQ approved site.

The company was also in violation of the CNMI Environmental Protection Act, CNMI Solid Waste Management Act, and CNMI Solid Waste Regulations.

DEQ indicated that the company has cooperated with the orders and paid the penalties on Jan. 18, after which Musung Corp. was allowed to continue work at the Koblerville site.

“DEQ will continue to monitor the company’s progress and ensure no further violations will be made,” the division said.

The construction company was caught creating an illegal landfill in the area, digging a trench about 20 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 4 feet deep. Debris from an old structure were dumped into the hole, in violation of CNMI environmental laws.

Witnesses said Musung was initially seen getting rid of the debris using a dump truck.

Its workers allegedly buried tins, rebars, and broken concrete. The “landfill” is reportedly located in a public lot.

A Musung worker, however, said the digging was a result of a misunderstanding. The worker said that debris was really up for transport to the Marpi Sanitary landfill but when he delegated the work to another worker, the latter apparently misunderstood his instructions and dug the trench.

The issue also caught the attention of House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, who in a letter to Castro, pushed for an investigation against the company.