The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, early this year approved the reprogramming of $8.3 million in federal funds for airport projects on Tinian of which $2 million was allocated for the fuel farm.
San Nicolas said now that the instrument landing system, or ILS, project is moving forward, they are worried that fuel farm project will be left behind.
To be fully functional, the Tinian airport’s ILS will need a fuel tank farm, he added.
“There is money for this project and all we have to do now is ask the concerned agencies about its status,” he said. “But right now, we have yet to hear a concrete and solid plan for the fuel farm and the funding remains untouched.”
San Nicolas said on Monday, delegation members and local officials of Tinian met to discuss island issues and projects.
He said the ILS, fuel farm, landfill and other development projects for the airport are their top priorities in light of the military buildup on Guam.
San Nicolas said they want to meet with the Commonwealth Ports Authority regarding the “real status” of the fuel farm.
CPA needs to identify a government-owned site for the fuel farm which should not be far from the airport but not close to residential areas, San Nicolas said.
“CPA should be reminded about its job with regards to this project,” he said. “We need a concrete plan so it can move forward like the ILS. We need to know why we’re not seeing any movements in the fuel farm project.”
Because of CPA’s limited funding, Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino initially offered to finance the fuel farm project.
San Nicolas, however, said this won’t happen anymore because federal funds have already been reprogrammed for the project.
