NMI won’t be able to meet the deadline to close dump

The CNMI will be asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for additional time to comply with a longstanding administrative order to completely close the Puerto Rico dump by February 2010.

With only a year before deadline, local and federal permits for the dump closure have yet to be released, thereby pushing back the issuance of an invitation-to-bid and the award of contract for re-contouring the waste mound, placing a liner and other construction activities at the site, Saipan Tribune learned yesterday.

Construction at the site alone will require 12 months from the issuance of a notice-to-proceed to the company that will be awarded the contract, making it impossible to meet the February 2010 deadline.

The total project cost is estimated to be between $7 million and $10 million.

The Coastal Resources Management Office has yet to issue a major siting permit for the Puerto Rico dump closure.

According to CRM yesterday, it will take two to three more weeks for the permit to be issued.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also has yet to issue a “404 Permit,” as the project involves certain activities conducted in areas regulated by the federal agency, including wetlands, streams, rivers and other U.S. waters. In the case of the Puerto Rico dump closure, there are mudflats, sea grasses and mangroves that need to be dealt with.

The dump has portions reaching 80 to 100 feet from the ground. It was closed to public dumping in February 2003. Right now, the dump is covered by natural vegetation.

Steve Hiney, solid waste technical consultant for the Department of Public Works, said yesterday the U.S. EPA has been informed throughout the process of the need to extend the deadline and that “the request is just formality.”

He said at this stage, the CNMI is in compliance with the U.S. EPA order.

“There really are no stumbling blocks at this point. It is just the time required to solicit public comments that is associated with all permits. The CNMI has received indications that the regulatory agencies are satisfied with our submittals,” Hiney said.

He said once all permits are secured, DPW can issue the invitation to bid for the dump closure within four to six weeks.

“The construction schedule is set at 12 months from notice to proceed,” Hiney added.

The CNMI government has chosen a “restricted access closure” option to completely close the dump.

Major components of this dump closure project include the re-contouring of the waste mound, and placing a high-density polyethylene and geosynthetic clay liner system, overlaid by a drainage layer and vegetative layer.

There will also be landscaping, landfill gas management system, groundwater monitoring wells, and fencing.

If additional funding becomes available, the project may also involve park amenities, including putting up benches.

The plan is to convert the dump into a public park but due to limited funding, the current focus is to completely close the dump to comply with the EPA administrative order.

DPW has hired HK Pangelinan and Associates as construction manager for the project.

In 2006, the US EPA cited the closure of the Puerto Rico dump on Saipan as one of its Pacific environmental enforcement accomplishments for the year.

The federal agency said an agreement with the CNMI government outlining the closure of the Puerto Rico dump includes a schedule with deadlines for a financing plan, design and construction of final closure, and post-closure monitoring.

It said at various times, inspectors have observed contaminated storm water and leachate ponding at the dump and flowing into the Tanapag Lagoon.

The Puerto Rico dump has been a source of water pollution for over 50 years and the final closure will greatly reduce the dump’s adverse impacts to the surrounding ocean ecosystem, said the U.S. EPA.