The Historic Preservation Office\u2019s sole archaeologist resigned 11 days ago, prompting the HPO board to recall the tough hiring prospects of past years and consider the scarce technical resources it faces as the CNMI stares down the release this week of impact documents on proposed joint military live-fire trainings.<\/p>\n
Concerns over the CNMI Joint Live-Fire Training Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Pagan and Tinian\u2014due on April 3\u2014were raised after HPO updated the board on a vacant archaeologist position.<\/p>\n
Board members emphasized the technical expertise they\u2019d need in negotiations for mitigations to any historic land the military may want to acquire, specifically on Pagan.<\/p>\n
According to HPO director Merti Kani, previous HPO archaeologist Eric Lash\u2019s job was \u201cto do review of Sec[tion] 106\u201d of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which requires federal agencies like the military to take into account their effects on historic properties.<\/p>\n
HPO specialist John Palacios said there are 37 nationally registered historic sites in the CNMI. None are on Pagan. He noted, though, there are many eligible sites that are still \u201cintact\u201d on the island.<\/p>\n
When asked to come up with a number, he said, \u201cA lot. A lot.\u201d He could not verify a total yesterday.<\/p>\n
According to Kani, Lash cited family reasons in his resignation letter. Before Lash, the archaeologist position had been vacant for three years, from 2011 to 2014.<\/p>\n
Board member Don Farrell emphasized the need to have a proper historical officer at the office, noting that the military has spent million of dollars on teams to have their perspective on their work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are behind the 8-ball,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government has grossly underestimated the need for primary research to respond to that document,\u201d he said, calling the 40-day scramble to respond to the DEIS \u201cnot adequate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Farrell said military officials have been walking the halls of the Legislature for the last five years, while the CNMI \u201chasn\u2019t even open[ed] the door.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said they don\u2019t need just one archaeologist, \u201cwe need several.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need that funding now,\u201d or else the CNMI is \u201cnever going to make it to that position to negotiate mitigations.\u201d<\/p>\n
HPO board vice chair Dr. Hiro Kurashina backed Farrell\u2019s concern, noting that at the University of Guam where he works, the anthropology department has no archaeologists. They have left for institutions in Australia and California, he said.<\/p>\n
Even private firms are having trouble recruiting archaeologists in the Pacific, he said. Average employment is sixth months, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are competing with other employment opportunities\u201d like the U.S. Navy, he said, where \u201ctheir salary\u2026is quite attractive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Farrell said the CNMI Covenant guarantees that if the military wants more land they\u2019d have to engage in dialogue. \u201cHow do we decide how much is Pagan worth? We are historians,\u201d he said, adding it is their job not to repeat history\u2019s mistakes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got robbed in \u201975,\u201d he said, referring to lease of Tinian land to the military. \u201cWe got robbed big time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Board member Dr. Elizabeth Rechebai said that without technical expertise, they \u201care operating in a vacuum.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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