The contract was awarded to Allied Pacific Environmental Consulting Inc.
On Friday, the CPA board voted to renew the contract that allows APEC to address the concerns of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which earlier cited and fined the ports authority for violations of EPA rules and standards.
Under the new contract, $275,000 will be spent on the removal of contaminated soil; $35,000 on air permitting with the Division of Environmental Quality; and $50,000 on hazardous waste shipment.
APEC’s original contract expired three months ago but it continued helping CPA comply with the EPA requirements, according to the CPA board.
Board member Thomas Villagomez said renewing the consultant’s contract will prevent an “additional citation” from the EPA.
CPA acting comptroller Frances Mafnas reported to the board that based on a careful study and assessment of the agency, there’s a need to seek the assistance of other government offices.
“We were able to bring down the [contract amount from $1 million to $360,000] after we asked the assistance of some agencies like the Department of Public Works,” she told the board, adding that DPW will help in the removal of contaminated soil.
The contaminated soil will be brought to Marpi while the hazardous waste needs to be shipped out from the island.
Mafnas said CPA will source the money for the APEC contract from the agency’s collection from the historical project reimbursements which currently has a $1.6 million available balance.
CPA is required to incinerate waste from airlines serving the CNMI and from U.S. government vessels arriving at the Saipan seaport.
The EPA cited CPA in July 2005 for “contributing to a condition which may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the environment.”
Last August, the EPA and CPA entered into a consent order that involves a monetary penalty and the implementation of a complete soil remediation plan.
CPA also agreed to secure an air emissions permit for its incinerator, retire its old incinerator unit and properly dispose its hazardous materials.
