Faride Komisar, OIA grant manager, informed the CNMI government’s CIP coordinator Virginia C. Villagomez about this requirement in January.
The CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources has yet to submit the mitigation plan, Variety learned yesterday.
Variety’s call was never returned by DLNR’s Fish and Wildlife Division yesterday.
OIA has already approved funding for the architectural and engineering design portion of the instrument landing system, or ILS, project.
“Once a satisfactory brown tree snake plan is received, OIA will issue an [authorization to proceed] allowing construction to commence,” Komisar said.
She added, “Only funds for the project’s design may be expended until an [authorization] is issued.”
Tinian has been pushing for the ILS project since March 2006. It will be financed through the reprogramming of federal capital improvement project funds amounting to $5.573 million.
The first phase of the project is the procurement of an A&E design services, which the Commonwealth Ports Authority has yet to do.
Tinian officials said some airlines will only fly directly to the island if an ILS is installed at its airport.
