KagHS advisory
(KagHS) — The 1st quarter report cards of Kagman High School students will be distributed on Thursday, Nov. 20, during the first period class. Parents and guardians are requested to go to their children’s first period classroom.
The November PTSA meeting is set for Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Kagman High School from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information, call us 237-3840 or 237-3832 or fax at664-3788.
DEQ releases water quality report; 30 days to comment
(DEQ) — The Division of Environmental Quality announces the release of the 2006 CNMI 305(b) Water Quality Report.
This report contains assessments of all waterbodies that DEQ monitors for water quality and biological criteria —seagrass and coral reefs.
Section 305(b) of the federal Water Pollution Control Act requires that states and territories monitor the quality of their surface and ground waters and produce a report describing the status of their water quality.
This 305(b) report will be used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Congress, and the public, to evaluate (1) whether U.S. waters meet water quality standards, (2) the progress made in maintaining and restoring water quality, and (3) the extent of remaining problems.
The EPA requires all impaired waterbodies, from unknown pollution sources, to be placed on the 303(d) list for further studies leading to remedial actions.
The EPA consolidated assessment and listing methodology categories were used to classify all assessed waterbodies in the CNMI during 2006 and 2007.
DEQ, under the Office of the Governor, is responsible for preparing the CNMI 305(b) report, and subsequent 303(d) listings.
The integrated 305(b) and 303(d) report describes the methodology used for this water quality evaluation. This report is available for public comments at the DEQ office in Gualo Rai. Additionally, this report can be electronically transferred by request to deq.biologist@saipan.com. Written comments on the proposed 303(d) list should be sent to DEQ by Friday, Dec. 12, 2008.
For more information about this report, contact Peter Houk at 664-8500.
Sasamoto continues work at water task force
(WTF) — The Water Task Force chairman, Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, and the Office of the Governor have awarded a contract for program management of the task force for the next two years to Pedro Sasamoto.
“Mr. Sasamoto’s accomplishments in the past two years have been extraordinary,” states the WTF chairman, Villagomez said. “We are pleased to see him continue in this role.”
He added, “There is a long list of projects done well, done on time and done according to an overall plan for improving the whole Saipan water system. Mr. Sasamoto’s leadership is a model to us all of how we can efficiently and effectively put our federal dollars to work for real progress.”
The project Sasamoto has directed with the greatest immediate impact is the leak detection and repair project.
Before July 12, 2007 most of Chalan Kanoa, Susupe and San Antonio had only two hours of water per day.
Today, with the leak detection project nearly completed, 100 percent of residential customers have water 24 hours a day.
Twenty-four-hour water has been out of reach for many on Saipan for years.
In Dec. 2006 only 26 percent of Saipan’s population had 24 hour water. Now 75 percent of the population — approximately 47,000 people — have 24-hour water.
Later this year the task force, under Sasamoto’s direction, will begin two projects in Garapan to repair and replace leaking waterlines.
New projects include a new waterline under construction now that will connect six wells in As Matuis to the water system.
This new water source will supply As Matuis, San Roque and Tanapag and is also expected to provide excess supply that can be directed to the Garapan area where it is badly needed.
Weaver joins judiciary as building superintendent
(Office of the Clerk of Court, Saipan) — Gene Weaver recently joined the CNMI Judiciary and will now serve as building superintendent for the courts.
A long time Saipan resident, Weaver spent the past four years with the CNMI governor’s office hazard mitigation grant program.
While with the hazard mitigation program, he wrote grants for several presidential disasters declarations within the CNMI, and received notable success as all 15 grants submitted were approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
A married father of five children, Weaver is an active parent in the MotherRead/FatherRead Program. He also serves as president of the Saipan Fishermen’s Association, president of Kagman Head Start, vice chairman of the Head Start Policy Council, and president of the San Halom I Mamte Fishing Club.
According to Weaver, “I look forward to putting my knowledge, experience and skills to work here at the Guma Hustisia. As the new building superintendent, I am dedicated to the tasks before me and I look forward to the new challenges ahead.”
As building superintendent, Weaver will supervise and direct the operation and maintenance of the Guma Hustisia, Rota and Tinian judicial centers, and other court facilities. His duties will also include managing court building efficiency, developing plans and programs for maintaining court facilities, and reviewing and assessing means to improve and enhance the productivity and utilization of court resources.
Director of Courts Tracy M. Guerrero states, “In the past months the position has been vacant, we have realized exactly how essential the role of the building superintendent is to the judiciary. We are pleased to have Mr. Weaver on board, to keep the courts functioning at their optimum.”
