HONOLULU\u2014The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded over $2.3 million to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands\u2019 Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality\u00a0to strengthen its capacity to protect human health and the environment, and has awarded over $6.3 million to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis funding will help provide cleaner water, safe drinking water and sanitation to the local communities in the Commonwealth,\u201d said EPA administrator Scott Pruitt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. are great partners in environmental protection,\u201d said Alexis Strauss, EPA\u2019s acting regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest. \u201cWe are pleased to support programs committed to achieving a better environment for all the residents of CNMI.\u201d<\/p>\n
BECQ uses EPA funding to support inspections, emergency responses, radon assessments, protection of coral reefs, cleanups of contaminated lands and polluted streams, monitoring safety of pesticide use, ensuring clean beaches and safe drinking water, and improvements to hazardous waste and clean air programs.<\/p>\n
The funding has also helped BECQ assess and\u00a0permanently close the last inventoried leaking underground storage tank on Saipan. EPA\u2019s recent funding of over $1.3 million supplements the $1 million in funds awarded to BECQ earlier this year.<\/p>\n
“The CNMI, together with EPA, share a profound commitment to the protection of our natural environment, as we develop plans to protect air, water, and land, and move forward with sustainable development,” said Ray Masga, acting BECQ administrator.<\/p>\n
EPA\u2019s award of $6.3 million in\u00a0Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water state revolving funds to\u00a0CUC\u00a0will\u00a0support\u00a0projects to increase 24-hour drinking water service to customers, improve drinking water quality, and prevent water pollution. Targeted projects include water supply line replacement, drinking water well rehabilitation, and water system improvement projects. The funds will also support islandwide sewer pump station improvements, wastewater treatment plant improvements, other sewer system line replacements.<\/p>\n
“CUC will always be indebted to EPA for its long-term financial support to the CNMI,\u201d said Gary Camacho, CUC\u2019s executive director.\u00a0\u201cThe investments have greatly improved the quality of life on each island of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. CUC is changing for the better and the critical funding provided by EPA is extremely important to the corporation’s long-term success.”<\/p>\n
The EPA\u2019s Pacific Southwest Region (Region 9) administers and enforces federal environmental laws in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands and 148 tribal nations\u2014home to more than 50 million people. (EPA)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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