DEQ adopts regs on substance cleanup

Several harmful substances released into the environment have cancer-causing ingredients and other detrimental health effects such as behavioral disruption affecting fertility, learning ability, and aggression.

Citing the need to protect the health of CNMI residents and the environment from these substances, the Division of Environmental Quality adopted last week an emergency harmful substance clean up regulations.

Based on the seven-page document released by DEQ Friday, immediate promulgation and adoption of the clean up regulations stemmed from the recent discovery of some harmful substances on several sites in the Commonwealth.

These substances, the report disclosed, have been released into the environment and threaten public health, safety and the quality of the environment.

“The likelihood of the presence of additional harmful substances is based on the knowledge of past and present activities on such sites. DEQ’s ability to address such sites has been limited by lack of enforceable standards,” the document reads.

With the CNMI Harmful Substance Clean up Regulations, DEQ will be able to protect the residents’ health and the environment by establishing a process to accomplish clean ups when harmful substances have been released or are being released into the environment.

The regulations apply to facilities where there has been a release or threatened release of a harmful substance that may pose a threat to human health and the environment.

The regulations also establish administrative processes and standards to identify, investigate, and require the clean up of facilities and sites where harmful substances have come to be located.

It also contains provisions governing public participation, monitoring of clean up sites, and emergency or interim actions.

The regulations, signed on March 1 by DEQ Acting Director Antonio Deleon Guerrero and filed at Registrar of Corporations on the same day, shall remain effective for 120 days until permanent adoption of regulations is concurred.

According to Mr. Guerrero, the regulations will provide enforceable standards and will allow DEQ to require actions at sites to protect the environment and public health.

In addition, the adopted regulations will also require periodic review, institutional control, evacuation, site hazard assessment, emergency actions and sampling and analysis plans.

Currently, DEQ is closely monitoring the recent fuel leakage include at Saipan International Airport where Site Investigation Plan was required from the Commonwealth Ports Authority and Mobil Oil Marianas.

DEQ is also closely monitoring the Tanapag soil excavation activities to determine the extent of the PCB damage. (EGA)