FLASHBACK – May 24, 2012

Chamber asks govt to lower incineration fee[/B]

Is the incineration fee being charged by the Commonwealth Ports Authority to the visiting U.S. Navy ships too high? Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Lynn A. Knight raised this issue in a letter to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio as she expressed concern on the effect of high incineration fee imposed on visiting military ships, an issue brought up by U.S. Navy vessels in written evaluations. This year alone, the U.S. Navy ships paid more than $57,000 to dispose of their garbage. Compared to Guam, the cost of disposal of regulated waste there is approximately $0.75 per pound inclusive of costs for a 6 cu. ft. regulated dumpster and collection services. CNMI requires all foreign vessels to incinerate their trash.

While expressing satisfaction over efforts by federal and local authorities to address the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in Tanapag, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday vowed to continue helping village residents seek relief for the environmental and health impact of the problem. He said he is “happy” following a report that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will finally clean up the area of the highly-toxic chemicals after more than 12 years of inaction by the federal government. A report that villagers are getting themselves examined by doctors in a clinic set up by the Department of Public Health with the assistance of the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is also a welcome news for the CNMI, according to the governor.

New Eurotex owners need $1M to operate[/B]

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers’ Association said new owners of bankrupt garment firm Eurotex would have to invest at least $1 million to resurrect its operations. SGMA Executive Director Richard A. Pierce said a substantial amount of money would be needed to upgrade Eurotex’s old and decrepit facilities to enable it to pass local and federal health and safety laws and requirements. “Our opinion is that it would require nearly another $1 million to qualify for occupancy at its work stations and dormitories,” he said.

The House of Representatives yesterday allowed the Coastal Resources Management to hire qualified nonresident professionals like engineers to fill sensitive positions in the agency. House Bill 12-343 is now headed to the Senate for review and deliberation. House Committee on Judicial and Government Operations recommended passage of the proposed measure which allows nonresident workers with professional degree to work for CRM.

$50K more proposed for NMI athletes[/B]

Saipan lawmakers came through with their promised $50,000 in additional funding for the Commonwealth’s athletes who will participate in the upcoming Micronesian Games. This developed after the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation passed on Monday’s session a local bill that would allocate $350,000 for several projects and programs on Saipan, among them the added funding for the athletes. House Local Bill 13-20, which proposes to source the money for these projects from fees collected under Saipan Local Law 11-2, now goes to the desk of Gov. Juan N. Babauta for passage. Prior to this, Babauta also signed into law a separate local bill that also sets aside $50,000 for the use of the CNMI’s athletes in the Micronesian Games in July. If Babauta signs HLB 13-20 into law, these will give the CNMI’s athletes a total of $100,000.

Federal-related activities and projects might suffer in the long run if local government agencies will be required to seek the approval of the Office of the Governor before proceeding with scheduled trips abroad. The Commonwealth Ports Authority pointed out that requiring agencies to secure a travel approval before taking off-island business trips may be detrimental not only to the CPA but to other agencies as well. Reacting to Senate Bill 13-42, which seeks to amend and repeal certain sections of the CNMI Code relative to the term and composition of boards and commission, the CPA stressed that a problem may arise if an important travel for a federal project is denied by the Office of the Governor.