Previous Story
Senate backs three miles
|
Posted on May 24 2006
Senate members have introduced a resolution urging the Fitial administration to support the passage of two bills pending in the U.S. Congress that would give the Commonwealth control over three miles of its submerged lands.
Senate Resolution 15-15 also called for unity on the submerged lands issue. It was signed by all of the senators except Sen. Luis Crisostimo.
The resolution comes amid disagreement among political leaders on the submerged lands issue.
Washington Rep. Pedro A. Tenorio says that the pending U.S. bills, which would grant the CNMI the same dominion that most U.S. territories have over their submerged lands, may be the Commonwealth’s only chance to be able to manage its own marine resources.
The two pieces of proposed legislations—S. 1831 and H.R. 4255—have the support of the federal government. But Deputy Assistant Interior Secretary David Cohen says the Bush administration will not endorse granting the Northern Marianas control over submerged lands beyond three miles offshore.
However, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial insists on getting Commonwealth jurisdiction over nine miles of submerged lands. Puerto Rico currently enjoys this amount of control over its marine resources. Fitial says the minerals found beyond the three-mile limit are necessary for the economic survival of the islands.
The Senate now asks Fitial to advocate the passage of the two submerged lands bills.
“The CNMI stands to benefit greatly from this pending federal legislation entitling it to full access to this three mile territorial and exclusive economic zone in its surrounding waters,” states a portion of the resolution.
“The unified support of this legislation by Commonwealth political leaders is critical to its successful passage,” the resolution adds.
Based on a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Commonwealth currently has no claim to territorial waters and the resources extending from its shores. The CNMI has unsuccessfully appealed this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
