Flashback July 7, 1999-2003

CUC close to choosing Saipan power plant builder[/B]

A final report on the independent re-evaluation of the stalled power project on Saipan is expected to be completed within the next few days, inching closer to selecting a contractor to build the 80-megawatt plant, officials said yesterday. Burns & McDonnell, a U.S. engineering firm hired by Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to conduct another round of review on various project proposals, will submit its recommendations to the Board of Directors either this week or early next week. CUC Executive Director Timothy P. Villagomez said the board will decide whether to accept the recommendations and to award the $120 million project to the winning contractor.

Twelve years ago, Tony Cabrera was supposed to develop his more than two hectares of land in Chalan Piao, but was stopped by the US Army Corps of Engineers because it might affect the wetland located in his property. This led Cabrera to seek a land exchange for his 1.7 hectare and give away the 1.1 hectare of wetland to the CNMI government. Five years after, he is still awaiting the property that was supposed to be exchanged for his land. Cabrera is not alone in this situation. Many people are having difficulty converting their wetlands due to the strict requirements imposed under the Clean Water Act, a federal law.
[B] July 7, 2000

PSS seeks aid for Anatahan school construction[/B]

Plans to expedite the construction of the proposed Anatahan school in the Northern Islands are facing delay due to the absence of transport services that would carry construction materials to the island. The Public School System has expressed concern over the lack of an adequate transportation which would haul concrete and other supplies to the construction site, citing this as one major factor slowing the project down. Board of Education Vice Chair Roman Benavente said the most ideal way of transporting the required materials is through the use of a Chinook helicopter, a chopper big enough to accommodate large cargoes.
[B] Recreation center planned for Kagman[/B]

The Public School System is coming out with a plan to provide the Kagman community a recreational facility complete with sports amenities that will all residents of the area. Originally intended for the use of students enrolled in Kagman Elementary School, which is set to open in August, the school system is looking at building a playground facility adjacent the new campus and the new Kagman community center. According to Board of Education vice chair Roman Benavente, the facility will also be open for the public’s use. He added this venture is PSS’ way of curbing crimes and delinquencies in the community especially among youths.

No FEMA funds yet for CUC[/B]

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has not received anything yet of its 90-percent expected reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Rota typhoon assistance. This, even as FEMA assistance funding for all jurisdictions was reportedly de-allocated due to a national budget situation last month, prompting the CNMI government to request for its reinstatement. The CNMI has since then received assurance from FEMA that its assistance funding would be reinstated. In a report to the CUC Board of Directors, acting comptroller Ed Williams said that he has not received any information as to when the CUC can claim any of its reimbursement.
[B] Power outage results in $15K losses[/B]

The island-wide power outage last June 4 resulted in a $15,600 loss for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., according to CUC acting comptroller Ed Williams. He said a three-member team comprised of personnel from power generation, power division, and accounting determined that CUC lost some $11,545 in revenue. In addition, the outage caused three water well pumps to burn out, which required approximately $7,940 in replacement. These pumps are located at Marpi Quarry, Isley Booster No. 2, and Agag Well No. 50. On the other hand, Williams said CUC saved in fuel use amounting to $3,875 due to the power outage. “This amount [fuel cost] should be reduced for the fuel savings realized during the outage when the generators were not in operations,” reported Williams.