CPA Executive Director Efrain C. Camacho yesterday said they will have to check on the availability of the dock that Worldwide Salvage Saipan is proposing to lease as well as other the conditions of the proposed agreement.
The area Worldwide Salvage Saipan wants to lease for a period of 90 to 120 days is adjacent to the former Puerto Rico dumpsite.
Worldwide Salvage Saipan president and CEO James McCollum said he will be leaving for Washington to finalize arrangements with the U.S. Department of Transportation as soon as CPA approves the lease agreement.
He said that the project will start as soon as they get a lease contract for the dock, warehouse where they will store toxic materials, and proof of funds.
“We will only lease the dock temporarily because we will begin the construction of a $6 million dock that we will be permanently using for the duration of the business,” McCollum said.
He added that the dock they will be constructing will be turned over to the CNMI government when they leave.
He said Worldwide Salvage Saipan will be investing $16 million for the project which is projected to run from 12 to 15 years.
McCollum said the project involves the hiring of about 250 people.
“This will mean employment for the people here for a long time,” he said.
Worldwide Salvage Saipan will bring in old ships from states.
Upon arrival, the ships, which range from 40 to 50 years old, will be inspected for toxic waste before they are dismantled. The parts will then be shipped out.
“We need a warehouse to store the toxic materials and we will ship the toxic materials back to the mainland pursuant to federal law,” McCollum said.
The dock Worldwide Salvage Saipan wants to lease is used by gasoline tankers a few days each month, but McCollum said they are willing to adjust their schedule.
“We will adjust our work, but this will be a temporary arrangement since we are looking to finish the construction of a permanent dock within eight months,” McCollum said.
Worldwide Salvage Saipan earlier presented its project proposal to the Senate.
McCollum said they have also already contacted different agencies to ensure that the company is complying with all the regulations.
