By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE chairman of the Tinian legislative delegation yesterday said they will adopt a resolution within the month to satisfy the concerns of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs regarding the reprogramming of funds from the wastewater project to the instrument landing system.
In an interview yesterday, Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, Covenant-Tinian, said the resolution has been drafted.
“In this resolution, we are firmly earmarking all future (federal capital improvement project) money for Tinian to the wastewater project so that we can move on with the ILS,” he said, adding that he hopes to call a delegation session next week when Sen. Jude U. Hofschnedier, R-Tinian, returns from an off-island trip.
In November of last year, the OIA inquired about the plans of the CNMI government, and specifically the Tinian delegation, with regard to the transfer of the $3.5 million in wastewater project funds to the ILS project.
Tinian officials, who have been pushing the project since March last year, want the ILS operational before the end of this year.
“The reason I haven’t printed out this draft and put it in front of the delegation members was that we need to agree on this thing which is committing 100 percent of the CIP funds to that project. We have concerns and it took us some time to decide and agree on tapping 100 percent of the funds,” San Nicolas said.
He said with the anticipated direct flights from abroad after the completion of the Tinian International Airport, a substantial increase in casino tax revenue may be realized which will allow the municipality to fund other infrastructure development, including the wastewater project.
The initial phase of the wastewater project may cost over $15 million.
Due to the limited yearly apportionment of CIP funding, San Nicolas said it could take five years to obtain the needed amount.
“What will happen if the $3.5 million is not paid back? This is one important concern that we have to address, but I believe that the money generated from flights and the casinos can be tapped…along with local funds for the wastewater project,” San Nicolas said.
Last year, the delegation approved the reprogramming of the $3.9 million funding for the wastewater project.
However, the Office of Insular Affairs questioned the move citing the affect of the reprogramming to the wastewater project which has been allocated $7 million in CIP funds, of which $6.9 million remains available.
OIA said a lengthy or indefinite delay will not only tie up the CIP funds allocated for the wastewater project and prevent them from being used elsewhere, but will also likely result in increased project costs and necessary revisions to the environmental assessment the project is undergoing.
The reimbursement agreement between the CNMI Commonwealth Ports Authority and the Federal Aviation Agency has yet to be signed pending the response of the delegation to OIA’s inquiries.