Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has signed into law a bill that defines the Commonwealth Ports Authority\u2019s industrial ports use and other port-related operations in leasing public lands. <\/p>\n
Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian)\u2019s Senate Bill 20-16, SD1 is now Public Law 20-1. It defines industrial port use, port-related operations and leasing public lands for a public purpose.<\/p>\n
PL 20-1 recognizes the CPA\u2019s responsibility in developing air and sea navigation and transportation within the CNMI and its role in promoting the cultural, economic, and political advancement of the people of the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Legislature finds a need to clarify and define parameters for use of public lands by CPA and what constitutes use of such land for a public purpose. Specifically, the Legislature finds that the term \u2018port connected purpose\u2019 used in the existing powers and duties of CPA provided in PL 2-48 requires specific definition,\u201d states PL 20-1.<\/p>\n
The Legislature wants the term \u201cport\u201d to be updated so it would reflect the proper names of the CNMI\u2019s ports.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Legislature finds that the Rota West Harbor includes a marina that is currently managed by the Department of Lands and Natural Resources under a memorandum of agreement between CPA and DLNR in order to receive federal funds and to maintain [it].\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe CPA, by necessity and design, engages in commercial activity in order to fulfill its public purpose and its mandate to develop air and sea navigation in the [CNMI] to the fullest potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
The commercial activity is done to expand, improve, and develop the ports and its other facilities in the CNMI.<\/p>\n
Senate President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan), vice president Steve K. Mesngon (R-Rota), floor leader Francisco M. Borja (R-Tinian) were Hofschneider\u2019s co-authors, along with Sens. Francisco Q. Cruz (R-Tinian), Sixto K. Igisomar (R-Saipan), Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Rota), Justo S. Quitugua (Ind-Saipan), and Teresita A. Santos (R-Rota).<\/p>\n
SB 20-16 was referred to the Senate Resources, Economic Development and Programs Committee that was chaired by Borja. The Senate passed it on Feb. 23 in their first regular session and the House on Feb. 28.<\/p>\n
MD: Torres signs bill defining CPA\u2019s industrial port use to law<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has signed into law a bill that defines the Commonwealth Ports…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[26,124,9467,13022],"class_list":["post-248218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news","tag-cnmi","tag-cpa","tag-natural-resources","tag-rota-west-harbor"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248218"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248218\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=248218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=248218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}