CPA exploring ways to dispose of aircraft waste

The Environmental Protection Agency has granted the Commonwealth Ports Authority a 60-day reprieve in which it could use its incinerator to dispose of waste coming from international flights at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.

EPA earlier ordered CPA to immediately cease all “un-permitted” burning of waste at its Waste Burning Facility and refrain from all “un-permitted” burning of solid waste at any time in the future.

CPA executive director Carlos Salas said he was informed of the reprieve during a teleconference with EPA officials over the weekend. He said EPA agreed to the deal after he assured them that only foreign aircraft waste would be burned at CPA’s old incineration facility.

Salas said EPA could also grant an additional extension after the 60-day allotment has lapsed.

EPA ordered CPA last week to improve its handling, storage, and disposal of used oil and hazardous waste at the airport.

This came about after EPA inspectors found in March that containers of hazardous wastes at the airport were left open and allowed to evaporate. Additionally, it also discovered that EPA were storing its hazardous waste and used oil in severely corroded and leaking containers.

Salas said he hopes to tap into federal funding to alleviate the problem. One of the priorities is the acquisition of a new incinerator.

Salas said he has assigned Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting chief Stanley Torres spearhead CPA’s effort to comply with the EPA citation.

He said CPA would address all other concerns in the current EPA order and meet a deadline acceptable to the EPA.

“CPA has engaged the reputable firm of Allied Pacific Environmental Consulting to oversee and facilitate these activities [waste management],” Salas said.

Salas said CPA is continuing its efforts to respond to the initial ban on burning of any and all waste at the CPA incinerator.

“CPA is a responsible government agency but it also has limited economic resources to address issues all at one time,” said Salas.

He added that air traffic is the only way to come to and leave Saipan, so flights are necessary. He said the disposal of aircraft waste generated by the foreign flights is essential to avoid health hazards and must be burned upon arrival.

Salas said CPA environmental contractor, PERI has completed over 80 percent of the required transfer of motor oil, used motor oil, aviation gas and other hazardous materials for disposal or placed them on containers that are in good condition that could be closed securely.

He also said their consultant, APEC, is currently conducting waste determinations, developing a waste disposal plan, coordinating disposal and is developing work plans to investigate and remediate former potential releases of hazardous materials and wastes.

EPA earlier said that CPA’s treatment, handling, storage and disposal of motor oil, use motor oil, used oil-based paints, solvents and other unknown solid and hazardous waste could present an “imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment.”