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BSI suggest MOA with govt for repair of ‘Garapan Ditch’
Best Sunshine International, Ltd. suggests that their repair of the “Garapan Ditch,” or canal, be done through a memorandum of agreement with the CNMI government rather than as a major siting permit condition for their 14-story story casino resort in Garapan, according to their project file under the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality.
This ditch or canal has been dangerous and foul smelling, and would run adjacent to Best Sunshine’s casino resort.
One permit condition of their major siting application requires that BSI ensure that the “Garapan Ditch” is improved to manage additional stormwater flow and reduce potential impacts to the marine environment.
This condition was also a part of the major siting application for the archaeological recovery dig done on the site. It remains outstanding.
Per the permit condition, a final design for approval would be submitted to Division of Coastal Resources Management within 120 days and design would be completed within two years of the end of their archaeological dig.
In recent correspondence with the Division of Coastal Resources Management, BSI says that this permit condition requires them to make improvement to an existing drainage ditch that runs along and outside the northern property boundary. And unfortunately, BSI writes, they do not have control over this property and therefore, have no authority to make improvements.
However, BSI writes that they appreciate the opportunity to further discuss this permit condition and bring in other relevant agencies to be involved in these projects.
“Perhaps this condition could be approached as an MOA with the CNMI government rather than a DCRM permit condition,” BSI writes.
This off-site improvements, among others, are included as part of the current major siting application sitting with regulatory officials. A public hearing for BSI’s 14-story hotel resort is set on June 25.
