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CPA sole-sources contract for environmental compliance
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Posted on Oct 30 2005
The Commonwealth Ports Authority is entering into a sole-source contract with a consulting company for assistance in complying with an administrative order issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency against CPA.
CPA will hire Allied Pacific Environmental Consulting Company on an emergency basis to assist in conducting soil testing at the Saipan International Airport for possible contamination.
APEC will also help the CPA with the procurement of a new incinerator for the airport and the immediate repair of its secondary incinerator.
The new incinerator will be purchased using a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
CPA’s incinerator at the Saipan airport has been a subject of a citation from the EPA due to improper disposal of hazardous waste oil and fuel storage. In May 2005, EPA ordered the ports authority to repair or replace its incinerator at the airport.
Waste disposal operations at the airport include the burning of solid and hazardous waste from airlines, law enforcement agencies, local businesses, and military vessels.
The citation came after EPA inspectors found the facility left containers of hazardous waste open, allowing the waste to evaporate. The facility’s hazardous waste and used oil were also found stored in severely corroded and leaking containers.
“Due to the nature of the EPA violation and the possibility of high penalty fines that could be levied on CPA, APEC’s immediate services was requested,” CPA Fire Chief Stanley C. Torres justified the sole-sourcing.
CPA executive director Carlos Salas also said that CPA would seek proposals for the purchase of a new incinerator for the Port of Saipan, which currently does not have such equipment.
Another grant from the Interior Department, amounting to $183,000, will be used for the purchase. The seaport incinerator will undergo normal procurement process, Salas said.
