In 2008, the EQPB has been awarded $100,000 grant from the US Department of Interior to develop the Palau Stormwater Management Manual and Erosion and Sediment Control Manual. In November last year, the EQPB published the Palau Stormwater Management Manual and held training on the Manual here in Palau.
For the second component of the grant which is to develop and print the ESC Manual for Palau, Portia Franz, Executive Director of EQPB, sent a letter to Vice President and Minister of Finance Kerai Mariur, requesting the latter’s consideration on a contract with expenditures less than $10,000 and explaining that Horsely-Witten is capable of developing the Manual and providing 150 water-proof copies.
“The EQPB has been in contact with Contractor Horsely-Witten who has wide reputation and extensive expertise on developing erosion design standards that are specific to certain environmental settings, including Palau,” Franz said in her letter.
The training component for the ESC Manual is proposed to take place in Palau in the third week of April to coincide with the annual Earth Day activities.
Franz added that printing of water-proof field guides has limited source, and no vendor on the island has the same service available.
“Developing field guides on erosion and sediment control is a unique service and we believe Horsely-Witten has demonstrated its capacity to provide efficient and quality service to EQPB and serve the best interest in Palau,” she said.
