NOAA official gathering input on monument

A representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is on island to gather input from community members and officials about the proposed national marine monument under consideration in the CNMI’s northern waters.

Allen Tom, regional director of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, said he is spending the week fact finding and meeting with parties that are for and against the monument.

Environmentalists contend the monument would protect and preserve the 115,000 square miles of ocean that surround the islands of Maug, Uracus and Asuncion, while opponents say the plan would unnecessarily intrude on the CNMI’s autonomy and bar any future fishing or mining in the area.

“In a process like this, there’s always a lot of confusion,” Tom said. “I’m the first of many people that will be out here.”

Tom said a representative from the White House is scheduled to visit the CNMI at the end of October or beginning of November to further discuss and answer questions.

Last month President Bush called on federal agencies to conduct assessments on the CNMI’s northern waters, as well as the two other areas, the Line Islands in the central Pacific and American Samoa, under consideration for a monument.

At a Rotary Club meeting yesterday, Tom said there are several reasons, including protecting the Mariana Trench, which are legitimate reasons to seek the designation. But, unlike the two other possible sites, there are many opponents of the plan in the CNMI, including government officials. Last week the House of Representatives passed a resolution opposing the plan, and Gov. Benigno Fitial has also stated his opposition.

Before the Rotary meeting, Tom came from the Governor’s Office, where, he said, “We did get an earful. Three hours worth.”

When a Rotary Club member asked how much influence the Governor and Legislature have in the final decision, Tom said he did not know what the determining factor would be but imagined the current preservation measures of the national resources would be a large factor.

“That seems to get lost in all these discussions,” he added.

Tom said Hawaii’s Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which President Bush designated in 2006 by using the Antiquities Act, should not be compared to the proposed monument in the CNMI.

“No sanctuaries or monuments are the same,” he said. “There are nuances.”