CUC assistant executive director Abe Utu Malae yesterday said they were responding to the Coast Guard’s recent actions against the commonwealth’s utilities agency.
Asked to elaborate, he said: “I cannot respond to you at this time until the complete response is completed and sent off to the USCG.”
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, in his recent CNMI state of emergency declaration, which once again placed CUC under his control, mentioned the fine imposed by the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard now requires additional and more stringent measures to contain or eliminate the possibility of any oil reaching the Pacific Ocean from Saipan’s Power Plants 1 and 2 and the power plant on Rota, the governor said.
CUC was fined because of its inability to meet the federal stipulated orders, a source told this reporter.
Variety was informed that the Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy, with the cooperation of the Emergency Management Office, conducted the inspection following Typhoon Melor in October.
There were deficiencies in the waste oil handling system at CUC’s power plants that were noted during the inspection, Variety was told.
During a typhoon, oil spills and other hazardous materials can create an environmental problem if they leak or are blown into the ocean.
