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CPA gets grant for new incinerator
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Posted on Sep 05 2005
The Commonwealth Ports Authority has received another federal grant for the purchase of a new incinerator.
The U.S. Department of the Interior released a $183,000 grant to help the ports authority buy an incinerator for the Port of Saipan. The federal agency earlier issued $250,000 for the procurement of the same equipment for the Saipan International Airport.
The Interior Department is requiring CPA to match the grants with a similar amount.
The Saipan seaport currently does not have an incinerator.
“Right now, all the waste coming from U.S. Navy ships and other vessels are sent to the airport. The grant for a new incinerator will greatly benefit seaport operations,” Salas said.
CPA’s incinerator at the Saipan airport has itself been a subject of a citation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In May 2005, EPA ordered the ports authority to repair or replace its incinerator at the airport.
Waste disposal operations at the airport include the burning of solid and hazardous waste from airlines, law enforcement agencies, local businesses, and military vessels.
The citation came after EPA inspectors found the facility left containers of hazardous waste open, allowing the waste to evaporate. The facility’s hazardous waste and used oil were also found stored in severely corroded and leaking containers.
“The EPA found the facility’s treatment, handling, storage, and disposal of motor oil, used motor oil, used oil-based paint, solvents, and other unknown solid and hazardous waste present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment,” the environmental agency had said in a statement.
According to Salas, CPA is also discussing with the Department of Public Health the possibility of ports incinerators being used to burn hospital waste.
“But that’s all just a plan right now. A project like that requires more permits and environmental study,” he noted.
