Northern Mariana Islands to Receive $5 Million in CIP Funding to Continue Rehabilitation at Saipan Power Plant and Improve Fuel Waste Management System

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 21, 2017) – Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Nikolao Pula has approved $5 million in fiscal year 2017 CIP funding for the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for the repair of fuel storage tanks at the CUC which fail to meet required standards of the American Petroleum Institute.

“Repairing the fuel tanks and improving fuel waste management is critical for the health and safety of residents on the island,” said Pula.  “We are pleased to provide the funds for it.”

The $5 million continues to help the territory meet requirements of U.S. District Court Stipulated Order Number 2 related to oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response at the CUC facility on Saipan.  Beginning in 2009, the courts ordered the CNMI government through the CUC to complete various projects related to rehabilitating infrastructure and improving management at the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation in Saipan.

This year’s projects are related specifically to cleaning, inspecting, and repairing fuel tanks to meet regulations and prohibit leakage into the Saipan lagoon; repairing and strengthening the surrounding containment area; planning, designing, and installing new systems, equipment, and practices to improvement management of non-hazardous solid and liquid waste including oil and oil-impacted solid materials. 

The Office of Insular Affairs has awarded $5 million each in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 towards complying with the court order and is expected to provide a final year of assistance to complete this effort in 2018.

 The Office of Insular Affairs carries out the administrative responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior in coordinating federal policy for the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and administering and overseeing U.S. federal assistance to the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau under the Compacts of Free Association.

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