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CHC gets bigger fuel tank
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Posted on Jun 30 2005
The Commonwealth Health Center could now better respond to emergency situations, especially during islandwide power outages, with the acquisition of a bigger fuel tank for its power generator.
The Department of Public Health is in the final stages of completing its fuel tank upgrade, with Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider confirming that the 12,000-gallon fuel tank would be completed by July.
The fuel tank replaces the 1,000-gallon fuel tank that formerly serviced the hospital.
Hofschneider said he is hoping that the new tank would provide longer hours of emergency power when disasters strike the island. Last year, the CNMI was hit by typhoons that left the entire island without power for long hours.
He said the old tank could only supply eight hours of emergency power during outages; the new tank could provide at least 40 hours of generator power.
Facilities, maintenance and support administrator John Flores said the project would be completed by July 22. He said the construction of the project started late April and was approved by the Department of Public Works. Flores said the winning contractor for the project is Reaction Co.
Flores said the project is worth $141,000 and is federally funded.
Hofschneider said the construction of the new fuel tank was designed to comply with requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Flores said the project was also designed to comply with the requirements of the Division of Environmental Quality, including safety measures to prevent and contain fuel spills.
Besides the fuel tank upgrade, the CHC is also being fitted with new typhoon-proof windows. Kautz Glass Co. president Richard P. Kautz Jr. said the project, called Retrofitting Windows project, is expected to be finished in 30 days, much shorter than the usual 90-day time frame.
Hofschneider said the new windows would protect the rooms of patients and hospital staff from water leaks brought about by heavy rains as well as strong winds during storms and typhoons.
