The MOA will permit the homesteading of 244 agricultural homestead lots on Rota and set aside 444 hectares of public land as a conservation area for endangered species.
“It is imperative that the MOA is agreed upon and finalized within a reasonable time frame to avoid prolonging this issue for another decade, eliminate homesteader animosity towards endangered species and conserve public lands for our native endangered species,” she said, in her letter to DLNR acting Secretary Jack Songsong.
Santos, Ind.-Rota, said the 244 lots are part of the subdivision comprising 420 lots that were held back since 1992 because of endangered species issues.
The wildlife issue has created discontent among homesteaders and pending applicants who have waited approximately two decades to receive lots, she said.
She said the draft MOA for the Rota agricultural homesteads was collaboratively reviewed, discussed and amended by DLNR, the Department of Public Lands, the municipality of Rota and the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during a meeting in Feb. 2011.
The draft MOA was subsequently forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office for its review and discussion with the governor’s office, she added.
Several Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office staff returned to the CNMI twice to follow up on the finalization of the pending MOA to discuss any issues the CNMI may have, she said.
Santos said she is hoping DLNR will support her request so that Rota homesteaders may receive their lots by the end of the year.
