Interior Provides $6.3 Million for Water Infrastructure in the Federated States of Micronesia

WASHINGTON (December 14, 2017) – U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Doug Domenech provided a $6.3 million Compact of Free Association grant to support the Federated States of Micronesia’s (FSM) Sekere Water Project on the island of Pohnpei.  Funding for this project will assist the Pohnpei Utilities Corporation in expanding its island-wide water distribution system and connecting to water wells drilled by the United States Navy in 2007 under a Compact-funded humanitarian assistance project.

“Infrastructure projects such as the Sekere Water Project align with the goals of the Compact of Free Association to help increase the FSM’s self-reliance,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech. “I look forward to supporting the FSM as it continues to develop its infrastructure management program and begins to take full advantage of infrastructure assistance provided through the Compact.”

Now in phase two of this project, the overall scope involves the installation of 5 miles of 8-inch water pipeline, significantly increasing the delivery of potable water service to approximately 3,500 people in multiple communities on the island.  The project will be implemented by Pohnpei State Government through its Project Management Office with construction undertaken by Adams Brothers Corporation, a Pohnpei-based construction firm. The project is expected to be completed in mid-2019 and will extend the water distribution system from Sekere in Sokehs to the Lehn Diadi River in Kitti.

The Assistant Secretary of the Interior, on behalf of the Secretary, is responsible for coordinating federal policy with respect to 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 provided under the Compacts of Free Association to the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The Office of Insular Affairs promotes policies and distributes grants under the direction of the Assistant Secretary who strives to foster economic opportunities, promote government efficiency, and improve the quality of life for the people of the insular areas.

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