BSI suggest MOA with govt for repair of ‘Garapan Ditch’
Best Sunshine International, Ltd. suggests that their repair of the “Garapan Ditch,” or canal, be done through a memorandum of agreement with the CNMI government rather than as a major siting permit condition for their 14-story story casino resort in Garapan, according to their project file under the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality.
This ditch or canal has been dangerous and foul smelling, and would run adjacent to Best Sunshine’s casino resort.
One permit condition of their major siting application requires that BSI ensure that the “Garapan Ditch” is improved to manage additional stormwater flow and reduce potential impacts to the marine environment.
This condition was also a part of the major siting application for the archaeological recovery dig done on the site. It remains outstanding.
Per the permit condition, a final design for approval would be submitted to Division of Coastal Resources Management within 120 days and design would be completed within two years of the end of their archaeological dig.
In recent correspondence with the Division of Coastal Resources Management, BSI says that this permit condition requires them to make improvement to an existing drainage ditch that runs along and outside the northern property boundary. And unfortunately, BSI writes, they do not have control over this property and therefore, have no authority to make improvements.
However, BSI writes that they appreciate the opportunity to further discuss this permit condition and bring in other relevant agencies to be involved in these projects.
“Perhaps this condition could be approached as an MOA with the CNMI government rather than a DCRM permit condition,” BSI writes.
This off-site improvements, among others, are included as part of the current major siting application sitting with regulatory officials. A public hearing for BSI’s 14-story hotel resort is set on June 25.
Can you FEEL the love? This “improved ditch” had to have been built by some entity? I’ve seen it scooped out more than once and not by anyone from BSI. Who owns it?
The liabilities involved with stormwater or any other runoff within the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Saipan rests with that authority not an adjacent business owner. As they have not built as yet, BSI cannot be thought to have had any cause in the ongoing problem
Welcome to Saipan BSI, learn to say NO! Tell the yahoos that if it isn’t brought into compliance that they can stick it. Nickel and diming has already cost millions has it not? Electrical billing subsidies, money for this and that? Oh come on, when will the mooches finally get a clue that businesses need to make a profit or they just go somewhere where they can. So far, it can probably all be written off under US tax law. Talk about money laundering?!!!
If indeed any of the suspicions about ethics violations might have some validity, who now holds the upper hand? BSI can feign ignorance and claim “CNMI business as usual.” The existing practice has already been proven in court much to the distress of all those with common family name(s) who may now be obliged to fess up or flee.