Some 15K junk cars in NMI
There are about 15,000 abandoned vehicles in several sites in the CNMI, which could pose a health and environmental hazard, according to a Department of Public Works Division of Solid Waste Management official.
Program manager Robert Jordan said the junk cars are not only eyesores but might also contain oil and other harmful chemicals and potential pollutants that could leak and endanger the environment.
“Junked vehicles could leak out coolants, oil and lead batteries,” he said, adding that the number of abandoned cars has been increasing throughout the years.
Jordan said his office would look into this and both DPW and the Saipan Mayor’s Office will be involved in the disposal of the junk cars.
He said the Mayor’s office is active in this program but its boom truck recently failed, causing the delay in the pickup of these vehicles. The Mayor’s Office’s problem is compounded by the lack of a place where to dispose of these junk because there are not enough sites on the island
“They [Mayor’s Office] don’t know where to bring the cars,” Jordan said.
Right now, the office brings the collected abandoned cars to a private company called Samkor that picks up and sells abandoned and junked cars to Korea and China. Samkor occupies an office and a lot in Lower Base, which is leased from the DPW, according to Samkor vice president Mariano Falig.
Jordan said the Transfer Station in Lower Base has a full recycling program and have appropriate facilities but none have been allotted for used and abandoned cars.
He said the DPW is looking at taking over the Samkor lot for the disposal of the junked cars but he still has to review the contract if there is any between DPW or the Marianas Public Lands Authority and Samkor.
Falig said his company is actually looking for a new place to transfer their operations. Samkor is charging the government for the transfer of the abandoned cars collected in the CNMI. He said his company was contracted by the local municipality to occupy the dumpsite at the Lower Base and clear the used car junks several years ago.
