‘CNMI may regain control over its submerged lands’

In a conference with CNMI House and Senate lawmakers Monday, White House Council on Environmental Quality chief James Connaughton said President Bush’s bid to establish a national marine monument in the waters around the CNMI’s northern islands could let some economic activity like undersea mining take place there and restore much of the local government’s control over near-shore ocean resources.

At issue in the conference was the Bush administration’s proposal to preserve 115,000 square miles of ocean encompassing the islands of Maug, Asuncion and Uracus, an effort to affirm the president’s so-called “blue legacy” of marine conservation. Federal agencies are now conducting an assessment of the waters at issue —one of three sites now under federal review for the designation—to determine whether they are suitable for a monument.

Environmentalists have long held that the monument plan would safeguard a hotspot for biodiversity in the Pacific Ocean and bolster the CNMI’s struggling tourism industry. However, opponents contend it would trample on the CNMI’s autonomy and block access to the waters for fishing or undersea mining.

During the conference, Connaughton told lawmakers that the decision on which site the White House will select as a monument has yet to be made, but any plan to establish one in the CNMI would give local people access to the waters and to the islands.

As part of the “co-management” scheme the White House would seek to establish for the monument—one in which the local government and federal agencies would work together to control the region’s natural resources—Connaughton added that the president could restore much of the CNMI’s control over the “submerged lands” near its shores that it lost in a recent federal court case.

“All of the management decisions could be made with you,” he told lawmakers, adding later that the plan could grant the CNMI access to mineral and energy resources in the region. “I think we could work our way through this.”

Moreover, Connaughton assured the Legislature that any monument plan would ensure that the islands surrounded by the preserved waters remain under local authority.

“The land is your land,” he said. “We’ve already decided that going into this.”

Yet in the waters, he said, the monument could preserve a stunning example of aquatic life and geological activity unlike any other. It would also become a prime example for other nations to follow when it comes to protection ocean resources.

“In brief, this area has some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth,” he said, noting that the nearby Marianas Trench is “right up there with the Grand Canyon” as one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Much of the plan, he added would depend on talks with local authorities.

“Nothing is in writing yet,” he said. “We’re not going to put anything in writing until we’re done talking.”

Connaughton’s assurances, however, were met with a stern rebuke from some lawmakers, who suggested the monument would effectively take the three islands within its proposed boundaries away from the CNMI.

For example, Rep. David Apatang (I-Saipan) said the proposal is unnecessary given the environmental health of the waters around the northern islands and the plan would impose strict barriers preventing local people from traveling there. Apatang also pointed to a recently passed CNMI House resolution disapproving of the monument plan.

“We don’t need another restriction like in American Memorial Park,” said Apatang. “There’s nothing wrong with the islands. They’re clean.”

Apatang also suggested that supporters of the monument plan are “just followers” without a genuine stake in the issue.

“You can always pack up and leave one of these days,” he said to a crowd of people wearing pro-monument t-shirts sitting in the gallery, most of whom are volunteer activists. “I don’t know how many of you are getting paid to do this.”

But a few legislators voiced support for the White House’s proposal. Rep. Tina Sablan (I-Saipan) said the plan should see further public debate and noted that federal officials have the authority under the law to establish the monument.

“I do think that there are resources up there that deserve protection,” she said.

Others appeared opposed to the plan but willing to continue talks on the issue. Sen. Felix Mendiola (C-Rota), for one, said he would favor the monument “and with force” if access to submerged lands and ocean mineral deposits is guaranteed in the plan.

“The people of the NMI just want equity,” he said. “They want to be heard.”

Earlier in the day, White House officials also met with Gov. Benigno Fitial and his Cabinet on the proposal. In an interview, Charles Reyes, the governor’s spokesman, said the Fitial administration still harbors concerns about the plan and remains opposed to it.

“I don’t think we’re going to change our position,” he said. “We have reservations on this proposal. The economic benefits are unclear.”

Federal officials held a public forum on the issue at the Fiesta Resort on Saipan Monday night. Meanwhile, the Rose Atoll and a site in American Samoa are also under review as potential locales for a marine monument. Many observers expect the Bush administration will issue a decision before the president leaves office in January 2009.