IN this day and age where every move necessitates spending, sustainably managing the CNMI’s environment also requires stable funding.
With this in mind, seven members of the House of Representatives led by Rep. Arnold I. Palacios recently prefiled H.B. 13-139 which seeks to establish a solid waste management revolving fund to cover the expected increase in the cost of managing new solid waste systems in the commonwealth.
With the completion of the integrated solid waste management system for Saipan and the upgrading of facilities for solid waste on Rota and Tinian, Palacios said a revolving fund which would be separate from the general fund and would be available for expenditure without fiscal year limitation is needed to guarantee the continuous and sound operation of these new machinery.
“Providing a stable, long term funding source is essential for the preservation of our limited landfill capacity and the development of projects which would maximize the diversion of solid waste from disposal to recycling and composting,” he said.
Moreover, Palacios, chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, said the revolving fund would help cover the cost of the “proper” closure of the Puerto Rico dump and its transformation into a public park. He said the existing capital improvement funding is inadequate to finance the rehabilitation of the dumpsite.
The revolving fund would likewise be used for any future financial assurance that maybe required to close one or more cells at the Marpi landfill according to Palacios, R-Saipan.
Under the bill, all monies received either as payment of fees from legislative appropriation, any tipping fees collected from any commonwealth solid waste management facilities, solid waste user fees assessed directly to residents and businesses, advance disposal fees and other sources of funding such as federal grants should be deposited into the solid waste management revolving fund.
Expenditure authority over the revolving fund would be under the secretary of public works.
The secretary finance will allocate the fund into sub-accounts for each of the three senatorial districts.
The other six lawmakers who introduced the bill are Reps. Francisco DLG. Aldan, R-Saipan, Martin B. Ada, R-Saipan, Pedro P. Castro, R-Saipan, Norman S. Palacios, D-Tinian, Daniel O. Quitugua, R-Rota, and House Vice Speaker Manuel A. Tenorio, R-Saipan.
