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DEQ steps up efforts to deal with pollution
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Posted on Jun 18 1999
The Division of Environmental Quality is set to conduct a study that would help identify the source of contaminants within the Garapan, the main tourism district, to prevent any pollution on the island’s aquifer and beaches.
According to Ike Cabrera, executive director of DEQ, samples of contaminants will be taken from the area by a team that will undertake the study. He said DEQ is working with business groups in the commercial district as part of the division’s educational campaign aimed at minimizing problems on contamination.
Educational materials were even translated in different languages to be able to reach a wider audience, he said.
After contaminants have been determined, DEQ will then draw up regulations to contain pollution, according to Cabrera. “Once we get all the data and we find out where all the contaminants are coming from, we will do something to stop these.”
This developed as the CNMI is set to host a one-week conference entitled Management of Pacific Island Resources for the Next Millennium, a forum which is expected to be attended by over 200 environment officials, including representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Sponsored by EPA and DEQ, the five-day conference, which begins on June 21, will focus on environmental problems affecting their island-governments, said David Chargualaf, chairman of the conference. It also aims to develop partnership and networking among the participants.
Nonpoint source pollution contains a variety of pollutants that cannot be attributed to a particular source. The health of the public is at risk if the components of nonpoint source pollution enter the aquifers that contain the drinking water. Since the CNMI is dependent on its aquifers for survival, environment officials are working hard to prevent any degradation of the water quality.
“If we work together with our leaders in the CNMI we can have a better environment. We should all work together to minimize the contaminants,” Cabrera said.
DEQ has warned the public against discharge of waste oil on the ground as well as other chemicals such as pesticides, household cleaning agents, paint and paint thinners.
