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Army Corps to work on Tinian, Rota seaports’ rehab
Anthony J. Paresa and Derek Chow of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Honolulu Office met with acting governor Jude U. Hofschneider to brief him on the planning stages of the rehabilitation of the Tinian and Rota seaports.
As part of this planning stage, the Army Corps of Engineers is working with the Commonwealth Ports Authority, both mayors’ offices, and other local agencies to begin the rehabilitation process.
Funding for the projects is based on a cost-sharing (50 percent federal, 50 percent local) basis. Estimated costs for each project are at $3 million; $1.5 million of each project will be borne by CNMI and the other with funding support from the federal government.
“This is good news for both municipalities as shipping has been hampered by current conditions at both seaports. The other good news, thanks to Congressman Kilili Sablan, is the recent passing of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act that doubled the waiver of the local match requirement for Army Corps projects such as the Tinian and Rota seaports. This means that we can apply this waiver to portions of our local share. So, instead of providing $1.5 million for each project from our local funds, the waiver lowers that amount significantly,” said Hosfschneider.
Once funding is appropriated by Congress for fiscal 2015, the Army Corps of Engineers will be on the ground to conduct the planning and environmental assessments.
