CNMI now has patent on mineral rights

Visiting U.S. Interior assistant secretary for insular areas Lori Faeth witnessed Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ signing—on behalf of the Commonwealth—of an Interior patent conveying to the CNMI oil, gas and mineral deposit rights Thursday morning.

Local and federal officials described it as a “historic” day as the CNMI now has full control of valuable assets found in its 3-mile submerged lands 38 years since the islands became a part of the American family.
Faeth also announced Interior grants to the CNMI, including for Compact-Impact, capital improvement projects, the Public School System, the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, road equipment maintenance and the Breadfruit Initiative, among other things.
The governor thanked Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), among others, for his bill that later became law, conveying 3-mile submerged lands to the CNMI.

Full story in Friday’s paper.