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CUC works for EPA order compliance
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Posted on Oct 29 2006
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. will definitely comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s order directing the utility agency to clean up spilled oil and prevent oil discharges at its Lower Base facility.
CUC deputy director Patrick Deleon Guerrero told Saipan Tribune that they will surely follow the EPA order as the agency could not afford to pay the $32,500 a day fine for non-compliance.
But Deleon Guerrero pointed out that they have also been working on to ensure they are in compliance because they want to make sure that the environment is also protected.
“We’re not out there just to destroy the environment. If there is something we can do to mitigate the exposure and discharge of waste oil to the environment we are going to do everything we can as well,” he said.
“It’s not like we’re going to try and circumvent the rules. We want to comply with the rules,” the deputy director added.
Deleon Guerrero explained that the problem of oil spills and oil discharges at CUC facility happened because of lack of oil disposal program in the Marianas.
He pointed out that the cost of shipping the waste oil off island “is very, very expensive.”
Deleon Guerrero disclosed that actually CUC is now negotiating a deal with a contractor that will take out the waste oil for the next 10 years.
“That we’re hopeful part of that program will help put us in compliance with EPA order,” he said.
He, however, stated that CUC executive director Anthony C. Guerrero is going to response to the EPA’s order in the next 20 to 30 days.
Deleon Guerrero said they will also issue a press release possibly early this week about the EPA issue.
On Thursday, EPA directed CUC to clean up spilled oil and prevent oil discharges at its Power Plants 1 and 2 and warned the agency that it will be fined $32,500 per day if it will not comply.
EPA gave CUC 30 days to submit a proposal and work plan for EPA approval to clean up the site and ensure there is no threat of oil discharge to the environment and from its drum storage area.
