By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE federal government says the Tinian legislative delegation’s request to reprogram $3.9 million in capital improvement projects funds for installing an instrument landing system and a conveyor belt system at the Tinian International Airport may only delay the completion of the island’s wastewater project.
Faride Komisar, grants manager of the Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs, said $7 million in CIP funds have been allocated for the Tinian wastewater project.
Of this amount, $6.9 million remains available and this is the funding source that Tinian has identified for its airport’s instrument landing and conveyor belt systems.
“While we recognize the importance and necessity of both the ILS and the conveyor system, we are concerned about the future of the Tinian wastewater project should the requested $3.9 million be reprogrammed to the Tinian ILS,” said Komisar in his letter to the CNMI government’s CIP administrator Virginia Villagomez on Dec. 21.
The first phase of the Tinian wastewater project is estimated to cost $15 million.
“Has a source of funding been identified to ensure that this project is fully funded, particularly if OIA approves the requested reprogramming?” Komisar said, adding that it is their policy to only fund new projects once existing projects are fully funded.
“While exceptions can be made, we are concerned that a funding shortfall of this magnitude would indefinitely delay the project,” he added.
Komisar noted that Tinian has opted to delay implementation of the wastewater project in order to implement the airport projects.
“How long of a delay is being considered? Has a timetable for commencement been identified?” he said.
A lengthy or indefinite delay, he added, “would not only tie up the CIP funds allocated to (the wastewater) project and thereby prevent them from being used elsewhere, but would also likely result in increased project costs and necessary revisions to the environmental assessment the project is currently undergoing.”
According to Komisar, the CNMI should provide OIA clarification regarding the future of the Tinian wastewater project before they address the requested reprogramming of $3.9 million.
Tinian’s ILS is targeted to be operational before the end of 2007.
The Legislature earlier appropriated $3.9 million for the project, saying that the ILS is the only way to boost economic growth on Tinian.
An ILS will allow any commercial carrier to fly directly to the island.
Due to OIA’s request for clarification and justification of the Tinian airport projects, the signing of the reimbursable agreement between the CNMI and the Federal Aviation Administration’s consultants has been postponed.