DPW’s Technical Service Division Director Joe Inos said they are in the process of hiring a consultant who will develop the manual.
Inos said the CNMI will be the leading jurisdiction in the Pacific that will have a right-of-way manual.
Previously, he added, private lands were acquired for government use through surveys, a little bit of research and verification of ownership.
The right-of-way manual, as required by federal regulations, describes functions and procedures for all phases of the real estate program, including appraisal, review, negotiation and eminent domain, property management and relocation assistance.
The manual will also prevent conflict of interest and avoid fraud, waste and abuse.
Continuous infrastructure development in the CNMI now necessitates acquisition of properties, be it public or private, Inos said.
The government is working on a dozen of federally funded highway projects, but none of them will require the acquisition of private lands.
Once selected to do the manual, the firm will consider all the Federal Highway Administration requirements and CNMI laws.
The manual will be based on other U.S. Department of Transportation manuals or the Federal Highway Administration real estate acquisition guide.
