By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

A RESOLUTION introduced by Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb is urging the administration to approve an agreement that will pave the way for the creation of a volcano observatory in the Northern Islands.
House Joint Resolution 15-15 states that Gov. Benigno R. Fitial should act immediately on the memorandum of understanding between the CNMI and the U.S. Geological Survey on volcano monitoring.
Tebuteb, R-Saipan, in an interview yesterday said the CNMI has to come up with its own volcano monitoring system.
“Tomorrow, we don’t know what’s going to happen. (A volcano) may erupt anytime, and that’s how urgent it is,” Tebuteb said, citing the case of Pagan which is “showing signs of activity.”
An eruption on Anatahan a couple of years ago produced ash clouds that disrupted regional and international air traffic for two days. Flights were also cancelled due to ash falls.
“The real concern is that we’re dealing with life and death and an impact that could have a negative effect on our tourism,” Tebuteb said.
The MOU will “establish a foundation for official cooperation on the mitigation of geologic hazards and on improved understanding of the geology of Mariana islands to address societal problems.”
Nine islands of the CNMI are associated with active volcanoes, and “the eruption of any of them could pose a hazard to aircraft in the Western Pacific and expanded settlement and development of islands north of Saipan.”
The cooperation will include studies providing geologic hazard assessment, installation of a volcano early warning system based on real-time geophysical monitoring, issuance of timely warnings of volcanic and related hazards to appropriate federal officials, local officials and the public, scientific research on the volcanic process, training for the staff of the Emergency Management Office, modeling of tsunami threats to populated islands, and determination of geologic controls on ground water.
According to the MOU the U.S. Geological Survey is mandated to issue timely warnings of potential geologic disasters to the affected populace and civil authorities in the U.S. and its territories.
The MOU provides for the shared use of data and facilities.
Either party may submit proposals for financial or in-kind support of activities related to volcano monitoring and hazard assessment in the CNMI.
According to Tebuteb, there has been no response from the Fitial administration regarding the MOU that was submitted to the Office of the Governor and EMO last year by Dr. James E. Quick of the USGS.
Tebuteb said he’s not sure what the administration’s particular concerns are.
The draft, he said, was submitted to the administration for its consideration and “if they want to change anything or if they have questions, then (the administration) should let the (USGS) know. It’s a working relationship that at least should continue.”
Tebuteb’s resolution states that the MOU does not obligate the CNMI to any investment, but serves to assist the USGS in promoting awareness to U.S. congressional members of the urgent need to implement an early warning system in the CNMI.
The MOU is required before the USGS can formally create a Mariana Islands Volcano Observatory.
Tebuteb said he does not know how the CNMI monitors the volcanoes in the Northern Islands.