CUC: New water samples sent to US lab

(CUC) — The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. on Tuesday finished collecting and shipping to its California lab water samples from southern Saipan.
The lab will confirm whether levels of nitrate are still above allowable levels and to determine whether and when parents might again use the water for infants.
On July 10, the public water system was notified by its California lab that dozens of water wells and reservoirs contained levels of nitrate above the allowable or maximum contaminant level.
A drinking water warning was immediately issued and also delivered door-to-door at 15 villages in southern Saipan. CUC reminds all parents that this drinking water warning has NOT been lifted.
Nitrate, an inorganic compound, in drinking water is a serious health concern for infants less than six months old.
Parents were told to not use tap water for infant formula or other drink and food products until further notice.
Nitrate in drinking water can come from natural, industrial, or agricultural sources — fertilizers, leaking septic tanks, sewage, and erosion from natural deposits.
Levels of nitrate in drinking water can vary throughout the year.
CUC believes that these nitrate violations affect at least 5,000 customers in the following areas: Koblerville Turnkey and Koblerville MIHA Housing; Kannat Tabla, Fina Sisu; As Terlaje; Chalan Laulau (Naked Stallion) & along Beach Road (from San Jose to Naked Fish); Upper Dandan; San Vicente Elementary School north to Isa Drive; Atkiya Dr.; Lupok Way; Nativo Drive; in As Gonno, and in Obyan at Katmelu Country Cliff Club.
CUC water quality laboratory manager Heidi Yelin collected the new water samples on Tuesday and says that results should be available early next week.

Loyal customer redeems rewards from Western Union

WESTERN Union, in a media release, says it has recently rewarded its first customer in the Northern Marianas who has achieved 50 transactions with the Western Union Advantage Card SM with five prizes.
This customer loyalty rewards program was re-launched in March and April 2007 in more countries and territories with the great success and positive feedback from last year.
Father Delfin Tumaca from Saipan, who has been using Western Union’s money transfer services for more than a year, accumulated 50 stamps on his Advantage Card for his transactions with Western Union in just three months.
He is now the proud owner of the following prizes: a Unisex watch for his 10th transaction, a Nokia cell phone for his 20th transaction, a DVD player for the 30th transaction, a MP3 player for the 40th, and a portable DVD player for the 50th.
He is very happy to be rewarded for sending money back home, as Western Union is his chosen money transfer company.
Not only is Western Union safe and reliable, Father Tumaca says that Western Union is very convenient for his receivers because it’s close to their homes. It is also very convenient for him because he can just use his mobile phone to SMS the MTCN to his receivers without necessarily having to call.
Marianas International Travel Agency (Mita Travel), Western Union’s authorized agent in Northern Marianas, presented the prizes to Father Tumaca at Mita Travel’s head office on Saipan last week.

Cleanup underway for Kagman airfield dumpsite

(DEQ) — On July 23, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began the limited excavation and capping project of the former Kagman airfield dumpsite- a formerly used defense site.
The environmental investigation and clean up of the former Kagman airfield dumpsite is being performed under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites.
The first stage of the project is the excavation of 18 inches of surface soil from the entire site. Large debris found in the soil is being removed prior to soil disposal at the Marpi landfill.
The second stage of the project will be soil sampling using the multi-incremental sampling method. Soil samples collected will be sent to an off-island laboratory for analysis.
The third stage will be the x-ray fluorescent scanning of the excavated site, giving immediate information about any contamination that may exist at the excavated site. If any samples show contamination in excess if the CNMI environmental screening levels of 200 mg/kg, further excavation will be conducted until contamination levels are below the ESL.
The final stage of the project will be the capping of the excavated site using “clean” soil. “clean” soil will be used to cover the excavated area and will restore the site to its natural contours.
The public is advised to not enter the project site for safety reason. For more information, call 664-8500.

DPS to conduct checkpoints

(DPS) — The Department of Public Safety’s traffic section will conduct occupant protection/child restraint and DUI checkpoints on the days and times listed below.
Sobriety/DUI checkpoint:
• Aug. 10 – The setup will be on 2W Highway Chalan Laulau by PTI. This starts at 8 p.m. and ends at 9:15 p.m.
OP/CR checkpoint:
• Aug. 11 – The setup will be on Beach Road Garapan by BankPacific. This starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m.
Sobriety/DUI checkpoint:
• Aug. 11 – The setup will be on B/R Susupe by Minachom Atdao. This starts at 9 p.m. and ends at 10:15 p.m.
In addition, the traffic officers will conduct highway criminal interdictions, saturation patrols, aggressive driver interdictions, and laser activities.