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CUC forum tackles environment
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Posted on Jan 14 1999
A forum will be held next week by the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to discuss the environmental impact and the financial cost of a proposed water desalination plant on Saipan.
The town meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and will hear comments from residents of central Saipan whether they are willing to pay higher water rates to finance the multimillion dollar project.
“We want the customers to zoom in on the financial question of higher rates and tell us either ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” CUC Executive Director Timothy P. Villagomez said in a statement.
According to the water master plan mapped out by the government-owned firm, a desalination facility would be required by the year 2000 depending on population, customer apathy as well as lack of conservation efforts and other factors.
CUC held a similar forum last year, but most Saipan residents expressed disapproval over the project due to the high cost it entails.
At that time, majority of CUC customers were not in favor of paying higher rate. They also focused on operational issues, rather than keeping focused on the plant itself, the statement said.
The comments are expected to be handed over to the CUC board to determine the fate of the project within next month. To allow the board to make an informed decision, members first want to hear from those customers who would both benefit from the plant, but also be required to pay higher rates.
Customers who have comments may call 322-0390 or write CUC Corporate Communications at P.O. Box 1220. The forum will be conducted at the Carolinian Utt beginning at 7 p.m. (BS)
