‘Marpi homestead project not set in stone’

The Fitial administration assured yesterday there is no firm commitment that the 62 hectares currently being cleared of unexploded ordnance in Marpi will be the site of future homesteads.

Although existing plans call for the development of approximately 500 homesteads and related infrastructure on the land, the homestead plan itself was part of a master development plan created by the CNMI government more than 10 years ago, according to Charles Reyes, press secretary for the Governor’s Office.

There’s no firm commitment and the administration welcomes community feedback, he added.

“There might be some who want homesteads and I’m sure there are some people who might not want homesteads in that area,” he said, noting that the location is close to tourist sites.

There is no strong preference either way, the press secretary said. But the ordnance is being cleared for safety reasons, he added.

Why now?

Reyes said as much as possible the administration wants to clear the CNMI of all unexploded ordnance as a matter of public policy, especially when federal grants are available. He said he could not speak for past administrations, but the present administration has made good use of Environmental Protection Agency funds for such purposes.

A hazardous waste material company recently began clearing vegetation from the area, located near Suicide Cliff, in order to remove the unexploded ordnance, under a $350,000 Brownfields grant from the EPA.

Removing the ordnance will improve public safety and allow the property to be used for other purposes, according to the biological assessment report.

There are four threatened species that could be affected by the removal project: the Mariana fruit bat, Mariana swiftlet, Micronesia megapode and Nightingale reed-warbler. The reed-warbler will more than likely see the most impact, according to a letter from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service to EPA.

JD Robinson, an associate at Ampro, the hazardous waste material company, said all indigenous trees will be saved and four acres will be used for a historic preservation office. An area with a trail and plague will also be a part of the area.

Ampro will be working on the area for about nine months.

Some in the community, like Rep. Tina Sablan, are calling for public meetings before any major action is taken.

“A project of this magnitude deserves greater public scrutiny,” she said, adding that there seems to be growing public concern about how the ordnance removal effort is being conducted, “which involves massive clear cutting of trees in a very sensitive area,” and future plans for development after the removal effort.

Sablan, a member of the House’s Commerce and Tourism committee, said it would be appropriate for the Legislature, particularly the Tourism committee, and the committees on Natural Resources and Health, Education and Welfare to summon the major players involved for more information and solicit public comment.

The public needs to understand why the unexploded ordnance needs to be removed, how it is being removed, and the basic intentions of the Brownsfields program, the representative said.

“If we feel that homestead development would not be the best use of that area once the unexploded ordnance removal has been completed, especially considering the lack of basic infrastructure and the proximity to important tourist sites and habitats, then we should also begin thinking about better alternatives, not only for the use of that area, but also for the homestead program,” she said.

The area in Marpi lacks basic infrastructure like water, sewer, power and community roads.

Two projects in Koblerville and Capital Hill will provide 1,200 homesteads. There are more than 3,000 homestead applicants on Saipan who are waiting for their lot assignments.