In the first place, what was truly “inappropriate” was the decision to erect more than 43 massive power poles in a tourist destination as culturally, historically, naturally, and scenically significant as Marpi without holding a single public hearing to provide information to the community, solicit comments, and consider alternatives in an open and transparent way.
It is especially “inappropriate” that the CIP Office opted to move forward with power poles in Marpi without a single hearing in light of the following facts:
1) The original permits, environmental assessments, and designs for the Marpi cemetery all indicated that standalone generators would be used to meet the power needs of the cemetery, and would be sufficient. The decision to install 43 massive power poles instead in Marpi was apparently made late last year, on or about November 2010. It is our understanding that at that time the local Historic Preservation Office had requested that standalone power sources, or underground power lines, be considered instead. Clearly, that request was either ignored or declined.
2) Public outcry began as soon as the news broke about the plan to install power poles in Marpi, around November last year. Before a single power pole was in the ground, letters to the editor protesting the project and urging for the consideration of more compatible alternatives began appearing. Local media began to cover the controversy extensively. In December 2010 the Marianas Visitors Authority wrote a letter to the CIP project manager urging against the installation of power poles and requesting the consideration of more appropriate alternatives.
3) I emailed you, Mr. Stump, on November 16, 2010 and spoke to you over the phone on December 1, 2010 to discuss the project and the outcry that had ensued, to question the need for power at all at the cemetery, and to propose alternatives to power poles if power was absolutely necessary, including free solar panels available through the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council. I asked you then if the plans could be changed, and you told me then that they could and that you would think over our conversation and get back to me. I never did hear back from you.
4) The new local earthmoving permit for the power pole project was only recently issued on March 25, 2011. When the power poles began to go up in Marpi, protests escalated, as you know. More letters and stories appeared in local media. A petition began circulating. Several CNMI legislators, including the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee for the House, expressed serious concerns about the project. Renewable energy experts offered free expertise and discounted rates for equipment. The Friends of Marpi was formed, and members requested a voluntary moratorium and public hearings via emails, letters, and phone calls.
5) You and I met in your office last week on or about April 7, 2011 and you acknowledged then that it would not be too late, nor impossible to stop the project, hold public hearings, and redirect CIP funds to either install solar or wind technology or put the lines underground. It is, after all, the CNMI government that determines priorities for how CIP funds will be applied, and the CNMI government could have submitted — and may still submit — a request to OIA to redirect CIP funds to implement alternatives to power poles in Marpi.
6) As for the CIP Office’s concerns about vandalism being a reason for pursuing power poles, as you know, and as we have emailed you repeatedly and discussed in person, local businesses have offered assistance in identifying cost-effective security infrastructure for standalone generators or solar or wind technology systems. Moreover, according to the CIP coordinator for the Office of Insular Affairs, if the CNMI government so chose, the CNMI government could have submitted a request to apply CIP funds toward investments in security infrastructure.
An apology for the controversy created by the power pole project would only be meaningful if the CNMI government were to make a sincere effort now to address public concerns about the project by holding public hearings so as to gather input, allow proper examination of issues, and provide information to affected property owners, as well as to the community at large, since we are all impacted by this project.
The only “appropriate” course of action would be to listen to the concerns of the community, and finally show some good faith by addressing them. It is not too late to stop the power pole project now — engineers we have spoken to have all agreed the poles can be easily removed and will still have value as CUC must regularly replace old and rotting poles. It is not too late to hold hearings and implement alternatives to power poles.
It is not too late for the CNMI government to reconsider its decisions, and to work with the community to find more appropriate alternatives to power poles in a place as important and as sacred to us as Marpi.
And it is never too late to do the right thing.
TINA SABLAN
Finasisu, Saipan
