DEQ eyes new permitting program to curb pollution

The Division of Environmental Quality is preparing to implement a new permitting program in the CNMI in a move to control pollution sources and maintain the good quality of air amid the growth of businesses on the island.

In protecting the environment, the CNMI can do two things: simply follow the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations or establish its own permitting program which can be more stringent either by imposing stiff penalties such as fines or imprisonment.

Since various sources of pollution would need different types of control, DEQ decided to hold a workshop to help its staff understand how to deal with the legal and technical aspects of giving a permit to businesses in the CNMI.

According to James W. Morrow, president of J.W. Morrow & Co., a-Hawaii based environmental management consultant, DEQ would have to make sure that all the anti-pollution control requirements, specifically the air quality standards, are met by businesses establishments on the island.

“However, the control and requirement on the major sources of pollution may not be the same as the small sources,” said Morrow, who was hired by DEQ to assist the staff in efficiently drawing up an alternate permitting program.

He cited the CNMI may have to develop its own regulations in dealing with the problem of maintenance, service, repair or disposal of airconditioning or refrigeration equipment.

Currently, anyone that performs service activities that could reasonably release refrigerants to the atmosphere (adding or removing refrigerants from an appliance) must be certified by an EPA-approved program.

The U.S. is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol with over 150 countries that agreed to phase out production of ozone-depleting substances including CFC-12 by the year 2000.

While the regulations are equally applied whether in the U.S. mainland or its territories, the CNMI may deal with the problem on a case by case basis due to its unique condition, said Marie L. Broadwell, EPA environmental specialist.

Morrow said the focus of the permitting program should still be on prevention to maintain the clean quality of air in the Pacific.

According to Morrow, there is not better way to deal with businesses that can be a source of pollution but to make sure that they have proper controls and that they undergo periodic inspections to check whether the measures are being implemented to protect the environment.