Law to allow some projects in Rota conservation area OK’d, but…

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios has signed into law a Senate local bill that would allow certain municipal projects within a conservation area on Rota, including a planned expansion of the Department of Public Safety’s Rota Shooting Range. The bill is now Rota Local Law 23-07.

Palacios, however, noted three concerns about the future implementation of the bill.

For one, the installation of a Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Rota Emergency Repeater System is not an exclusive Rota municipal project as it has a CNMI-wide impact. Also, he said there are Commonwealth-wide laws and regulations that may further restrict project activities in these conservation areas.

Palacios recently informed Rota Legislative Delegation chair Sen. Donald M. Manglona (Ind-Rota) and Senate President Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) that the bill proposes to allow several projects at Sabana Heights, Talakhaya, and I Chenchon Park.

The projects include installation of the DFEMS Emergency Repeater System, a coffee project, and an organic farming project.

Palacios said a Commonwealth law allowing the DFEMS Rota Emergency Repeater System would supersede the installation of the system within the locally-created conservation area.

Secondly, in addition to the Department of Lands and Natural Resources’ authority to develop mitigating plans that would allow the development, there are Commonwealth-wide laws and regulations that may further restrict project activities, Palacios said.

Thirdly, the coffee and organic farming projects are not described in sufficient details, which may create disputes over their size and scope.

Sen. Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Rota) introduced the legislation last Aug. 10. The Rota Legislative Delegation passed the bill last Oct. 23.

Manglona stated in the bill that 16 years after the passage of Rota Local Law 9-01 in 1994, the restrictions provided in the law is too restrictive and strangles any important and necessary municipal projects.

He said although the conservation area is important and the protection of the aquifer is equally important, the delegation finds it important to allow carefully-planned projects to minimize the impact on the conservation area and the aquifer.

Under the legislation, the DLNR secretary, the Fish and Wildlife director, and the Rota resident director of the DLNR shall develop plans and procedures to minimize the impacts on the plants, wildlife, soil, rocks, landscape, and the aquifer, to allow the development of the municipal projects within the conservation area.

The projects are installation of the DFEMS-Rota Emergency Repeater System, DPS-Rota Shooting Range expansion and Improvement, Mayor of Rota Freedom is Nature 360 Trail and Overlook, a coffee project, and organic farming.