PBACD wants tight monitoring of pesticides
The 14th Pacific Basin Association of Conservation Districts conference concluded Friday after participants agreed to support 14 resolutions all aimed at addressing the region’s environmental woes.
The initiatives partly embodied efforts at enforcing stricter regulations pertaining to pesticides and other chemicals that pose potential hazards to the environment.
The Tinian and Aguiguan Soil and Water Conservation District, in a form of a resolution, has called on the CNMI Customs Services to be vigilant in the seizure of pesticides and other potentially hazardous cargoes that are not in compliance with the Commonwealth or federal regulations.
The Division of Environmental Quality is also being asked to efficiently enforce pesticide applicator licensing requirements and impose corresponding fines and punishments for those found illegally using and disposing US Environmental Protection Agency registered chemicals.
The Tinian and Aguiguan delegation also encouraged the US Department of Defense, the U.S. EPA, the Governor’s Office, and other agencies to assist in identifying hazardous wastes on Tinian, Saipan, and Guam to remove or otherwise render harmless waste products left behind by past military activities on the islands.
Conservation advocates also introduced measures that would seek for more federal financial assistance in the implementation of existing programs.
The delegation from the Northern Guam Soil and Water Conservation District has also moved that Capacity building grants accorded to PBACD members be sustained.
The Tinian group has also requested the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other concerned federal and local agencies to consider the need of SWCDs for increased funding support to develop its capacity to conduct conservation programs and other works.
The same delegation also called for the several local agencies to uniformly, fairly, consistently, persistently, and prudently enforce regulations and policies with regard to business practices of commercial agricultural production and related activities.
The entire PBACD has also moved to require the U.S. DOF, U.S. EPA, and the Center for Disease and Control to establish a federal task force unit that will coordinate with DEQ and the Department of Public Health in assisting the needs of Tanapag residents who may be affected by the polychlorinated biphenyl contamination.
These initiatives, to name few, will be carried to the Pacific region conference in the mainland in September, according to PBACD president Patrick Calvo.
After the regional conference, this package of proposals will be brought to the national conference for further review. (Marian A. Maraya)
