Public input sought on proposed visitor center for Marianas Trench Monument

The Marianas Trench Monument Advisory Council is hosting public meetings to gather ideas and suggestions from CNMI residents regarding the purpose, location, and potential funding options for a Marianas Trench Marine National Monument visitor center.

“These sessions will ensure the local voice of the CNMI people will be heard when we provide our recommendations to the Federal government on why, where, and how the visitor center is to be built,” said Advisory Council chair Ben Sablan. “This visitor center is an important legacy for future generations. The vision for the visitor center must be one that clearly represents the public interest. As such, we want to hear from you.”

“During the past two years, members of the MTMAC have spent considerable thought and time on the purpose, location, and financing options for the visitor center,” said Arnold Palacios, advisory council member, Visitor Center working group chair, and Department of Land Natural Resources Secretary. “At this stage, we want to invite and ensure the community’s goals, visions, and shared interests are included in the recommendations provided to our federal government partners.”

During the past few years, potential locations for a visitor center have been proposed. In April 2013, the CNMI Legislature issued a joint resolution recommending the center be built at Marpi, citing ease of both tourist and resident access. Later, Delegate Gregorio Kililii C. Sablan (Ind-MP) advocated the visitor center be built on Rota to boost ecotourism. Others urged for the visitor center to be built on or near the Northern Marianas College campus.

The MTMAC hopes that these meetings will result in recommendations that represent a cross-section of the community. Recommendations will be reviewed by NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and will be used in the monument management planning processes. When necessary funding is secured, the formal process of design, application, and permitting of the proposed visitor center will begin.

Meetings will be held on Tinian on Sept. 16 at the Fleming Hotel; on Saipan on Sept. 17 at the American Memorial Park, and on Rota on Sept. 22 at the Mayor’s Office. Each session will begin at 6pm and last two hours.

For more information on the MTMAC meetings, call DLNR at 664-6000. (DLNR)