BY 2004, all of the over 400 major and minor identified sources of air emission in the CNMI should already have secured pollution control permits required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality.
As the two-day CNMI Environmental Symposium wrapped up yesterday, DEQ said all major sources of air emission have until Jan. 2003 to secure the permit.
The non-major sources, however, have until 2004 to get the permit, according to DEQ environmental specialist Kevin Castro.
Those who fail to secure the permit will face penalties as provided by the Clean Air Act.
Castro said an ongoing inventory of DEQ had so far identified over 400 sources of air emissions on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Castro said Lower Base might be designated as “non-attainment area” due to the heavy air emission from the islands’ biggest power plants and garment factories.
