34 firms agree on environmental solutions during EPA, DEQ workshop

Some 34 private companies and a handful of government agencies in the CNMI agreed on best management practices that would benefit the environment in the Commonwealth.

The 34 government agencies received their certificates of completion for the recently held Roundtable Pollution Prevention Workshops that catered to auto repair shops and related businesses, health clinics, and garment manufacturers.

Some of the agreements and the highlights of the concluded workshop were:

-Improvement of used oil management practices where participants agreed on conducting vehicle repairs on concrete or paved work floors to protect storm water drains from oil or other contaminants, also to clean up spills immediately and easily.

-Energy Efficiency where the participants agreed to begin collecting energy use data that includes costs associated with operating and maintaining generators on-site. Garment firms, in particular, agreed to determine minimal use of generators and use supporting equipment more efficiently.

-Water Conservation where majority of the participating firms agreed to: start collecting water use data; track costs that are associated with water consumption and set targets for conservation and cost-savings.

-Minimize use of hazardous chemicals such as spot removers containing chlorinated solvents. Factories agreed to train employees to use chlorinated solvents as a last resort for removing spots, relying first on alternative techniques. The firms also agreed on inventory of all hazardous chemicals present at facilities and ensure their proper storage.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 technical advisor W. Norwood Scott said the first Roundtable on Saipan was held more as an education outreach but not due to results of any citation to any organization in the CNMI.

DEQ director Frank Rabauliman congratulated the participants. In his brief speech, he commended the representatives from each company.

“Perhaps one of the most important understandings that came out of these talks was the recognition that what is good for public health and the environment is also good for business,” he added.

DEQ program officer Tina Sablan said during the workshop several questions and concerns were raised so that the businesses could be assisted for the improvement of its environmental performance. She said the Roundtable was a “major success story” that would eventually need a follow up.

U.S. EPA Region 9 manager McCarroll reminded the firms about proper waste management. He said that having wastes means less profit, “When something is wasted less profit,”

Participating businesses during the Auto Repair Roundtable Workshops were Auto Marine, Inc., Big Brother Auto Shop, Cartown Auto, Dengshi Corporation, Department of Public Works, Diamond Auto Care Center, Harmony International, Microl Corp., Philippine Eagle Corporation, R&R Auto Shop, Saipan Mayor’s Office, Saipan Stevedore, Shin Jin Auto, South Pacific Galaxy Corp., Success Auto Repair Shop, Taro Sue Corp., and YJC Auto Shop.

For Health Clinic Roundtable Workshop, participants were Concorde Garment Manufacturing Corp., Island Medical Center, Medical Associates of the Pacific, Pacific Medical Center, and Saipan Seventh Day Adventist Clinic.

For the Green Garment Workshop held in collaboration with the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association, the participating firms were Concorde Garment Manufacturing Corp., Kyung Seung Saipan, Inc., L&S Apparel Corp., Li & Fung Exports, Ltd., Marianas Garment Manufacturing, Michigan Inc., Neo Fashion, Inc., Poong In Saipan, Inc., Rifu Apparel, United International Corp., Uno-Moda Corp., and US-CNMI Development Corp.