A 20-year master plan by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. for the entire CNMI would need at least over $100 million. Yet CUC\u2019s only source of funds right now is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That means CUC needs to come up with more funding sources to address all its water and wastewater projects in the next 20 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe CNMI is facing developments and we don\u2019t have the dollars to meet the demand,\u201d said CUC deputy executive director William B. Gilmore.<\/p>\n
In a public hearing on Monday at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe, Gilmore said: \u201cRight now, we are in a position where we need a lot of projects done and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is our only source of funds.\u201d <\/p>\n
According to CUC consultant Duenas, Camacho and Associates, CUC needs over $100 million to initiate new projects and finish the existing ones for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. <\/p>\n
All these projects are projected to result in 24\/7 water supply, compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act requirements, and reduction of revenue loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are trying to look for all solutions such as the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture as grant sources. There is a bill in the Legislature increasing development tax by 2 percent and we hope we can have access to that,\u201d Gilmore said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also need the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission to make decisions about rate increase. Payment from users covers operational cost only,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The presentation was based on a stipulated order by the court, requiring CUC to make water and wastewater master plans for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The master plan for the three islands has been in the works since 2011. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn a nutshell, the water and wastewater master plan for the CNMI is the complete assessment of CUC water and wastewater, in coordination with the operators, engineers and management to develop a list of projects that would help CUC to improve the system and to make good decisions in moving forward,\u201d said Kenneth Rekdahl, vice president and chief of special projects for Duenas, Camacho and Associates.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe master plan carries the list of projects that would have to be based on over a 20-year period,\u201d said Kenneth Thompson, consultant for Duenas, Camacho and Associates. \u201cThat is the plan that CUC has been following for the last four years.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Thompson, the master plan has been continuously updated since 2011 and is applicable to the current developments the CNMI is going through. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis master plan is not just up to 2011. We revisited and looked at all capital projects in 2013 and 2014 just to make sure they are still valid and did updates. We looked at projects that have been completed\u2026 so it\u2019s been a work in progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
One community member at the hearing pointed out the non-attendance of any member of the Legislature, which could possibly help with finding solutions to CUC\u2019s funding challenges.<\/p>\n
To date, CUC continues to implement projects based on how much money is available and having them done as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite the funding challenges we face, CUC still aims to meet the demands of the public,\u201d Gilmore said.<\/p>\n
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