Pete A.: Federalize NMI’s water problem

Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio yesterday urged federal officials, including members of President Bush’s Interagency Group for Insular Areas, to support the federalization of the CNMI’s water issue so that the problem could be addressed expeditiously. He also called on the Babauta administration to immediately declare a water emergency on the islands.

Tenorio said the CNMI’s condition is even worse than those in some Third World countries, after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conceded that Saipan is the only municipality in the nation that has no 24-hour supply of potable drinking water.

Tenorio said that, with the substantial financial requirements entailed by the need to develop water infrastructure—estimated to cost about $100 million—having drinking water standards at par with the rest of the nation’s states and territories would be impossible without extensive federal help.

While recognizing local and federal efforts to improve the CNMI’s water situation, Tenorio said these are not enough, vowing to push for a legislative measure in the U.S. Congress as soon as he returns in Washington D.C. to compel several federal agencies to pool efforts and resources to address the problem.

Tenorio made the statement before delegates to the 23rd Pacific Islands Environment Conference at the Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach. The EPA is sponsoring the event that will run until tomorrow.

“To them [Americans in other states], having good water is like a protection provided to them under the Bill of Rights in our nation’s Constitution. Our CNMI Constitution also provides our citizens with the right to a clean and healthy environment, but we do not have that protection,” Tenorio said.

Tenorio said he would submit to Congress a proposed legislation that would direct the Secretary of the Interior to review the water infrastructure development plans drafted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Such review would be made in consultation with the secretaries of Agriculture and Defense and the EPA administrator.

Tenorio’s proposal would mandate the Interior Secretary to prepare and transmit to the U.S. House of Representatives’ committee on energy and natural resources a detailed comprehensive implementation plan for the CNMI’s water infrastructure needs no later than Feb. 1, 2005.

It would also task the Interior Secretary to identify funding limitations, such as those on allocations to territories and matching requirements, and identify necessary changes, if any, to effectively utilize federal agencies’ programs and expertise.

Tenorio, however, recognized the efforts of the CNMI’s Water Task Force, which is undertaking the drilling of water wells in line with its goal to provide 24-hour water on Saipan within a 24-month time frame, which would fall on Nov. 2005.

He also disclosed that the federal government has recently appropriated $1 million on top of the $2 million allotted during fiscal year 2004 to address the CNMI’s water needs.

“While current and future efforts by our local government and through annual financial assistance from the federal government will gradually improve our water system, this is not enough,” the Washington representative said.

The Army Corps study estimated that Saipan alone would need some $91.45 million to carry out some 22 projects outlined in the local water master plan. To include infrastructure projects for Tinian and Rota, the CNMI will need close to $150 million.