The Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument formed in the Spring of 2008 to express the voice of the local community in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands who are dedicated to the conservation, preservation and protection of flora, fauna and geological features of the oceans; and the proper management of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. We were a recipient of a 2009 EPA Environmental Award for our community outreach work supporting marine protected areas.
The United States Congress is considering conveying three miles of submerged lands to the Northern Mariana Islands and we, the Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument and the undersigned, support this with amendments.
In their testimony before the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs, the Department of Interior made the recommendation that the proposed territorial submerged lands surrounding the islands of Uracas, Maug, and Asuncion (the Islands Unit) be conveyed back to the CNMI, “unless or until such time as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island enters into an agreement with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce for the permanent protection and co-management of such portion of the Islands Unit.”
We, the Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument and the undersigned, support the Interior amendments and ask they be included in the legislation.
IGNACIO V. CABRERA
Chairman
LAURIE PETERKA
Director
ANGELO O’CONNOR VILLAGOMEZ
Director
MARJALEE TAITANO
Founding Member
ANDREW SALAS
Founding Member
JANE MACK
Founding Member
HENRY COPPOLA
Founding Member
THELMA CABRERA
Member
TEENA JACKSON-EHRMAN
Member
RANDY KRUID
Member
