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Natural sinkhole-turned-dumpsite poses threat
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Posted on Nov 24 2004
SAN VICENTE, Saipan—A 60-foot-deep, 40-foot wide natural geological formation that has a cave-like structure at the bottom has served as a pit for dumping assorted trash for several decades after World War II.
Although one may easily think that the site can be made into a tourist attraction, its current condition will surely turn off anyone approaching due to the stink emanating from it.
The dumpsite of mostly household trash and green wastes has formed a sloping rim on one side of the sinkhole, extending from the bottom of the pit to the ground, where residents throw their trash.
On some occasions, fires occurred at the illegal dumpsite, according to Tina Sablan, an environmental specialist at the Division of Environmental Quality’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Control branch.
Sablan said household wastes include hazardous ones, such as paint cans. About three years ago, she said the estimated volume of trash at the dumpsite was about 1,500 cubic yards. To date, the volume could even be higher, she added.
Sablan expressed concern that the illegal dumpsite poses a major public health and environmental hazard. The dumpsite, located at a private land in Tuturam in San Vicente, is located some meters away from the beach. Besides contributing to increased nonpoint source pollution flowing to the beach, the dumpsite also threatens to contaminate groundwater resources.
To address these concerns, she said the DEQ is forming a partnership with other government agencies, such as the Division of Solid Waste Management, Coastal Resources Management Office, Saipan Mayor’s Office and the National Resources Conservation Service.
The interagency group will meet on Friday to discuss how to finally address the decades-old problem. She said the DEQ already met with the private owner of the land embracing the sinkhole, the Cabrera family, which reportedly supported the plan to restore the site.
