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CUC is told to get rid of old power plant mess at airport
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Posted on May 03 2009
Since the government shut down the old power plant at the airport site several years ago, several drums filled with used oil remain stored in the area, posing a great environmental hazard that is just waiting to happen at the Saipan International Airport.
Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Efrain F. Camacho disclosed this matter to the board during Thursday’s meeting, when he reported on the long-overdue work that was supposed to be done by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
Camacho said that CPA had already written CUC executive director Antonio Muña, discussing the possible great environmental catastrophe that may happen at the site if the “mess” is not properly disposed of.
He said the old CUC power plant at the airport has been closed for years and is apparently being used to store drums filled with used petroleum products.
“The storage of the used petroleum products on CPA property is a big environmental problem just waiting to happen…” Camacho told the board.
Because CPA has no written record for use of the property by CUC, Camacho said CPA is taking the initiative to make sure that any potential environmental concerns are removed.
CPA is demanding that CUC’s use of the property be put in writing in the form of a memorandum of agreement that, in consideration for CUC’s use of the property, the utilities company shall indemnify and hold CPA harmless for any and all environmental violations, fines, and corrective measures and costs.
Camacho, in his letter to Muña, said if CUC has any documents relating to the use of the property or any Environmental Protection Agency report indicating that CUC is the responsible party for any environmental issues, he wants these documents be shown to CPA.
Camacho said that CUC must develop a plan to remove everything from the premises as the property is part of the airport’s expansion plan.
He said Thursday that, although he did not get a response from CUC, a meeting with Muña took place. The CUC official, Camacho reported, was receptive to the issues discussed by CPA.
