Dean Higuchi of EPA Honolulu, Hawaii said stipulated order two requires CUC to develop and implement a program for a cleanout and integrity testing of its aboveground storage tanks at Power Plants 1 and 2, including Tank 104.
The order not only addresses water and wastewater issues, but includes oil spill prevention, preparedness and response actions, he said.
In his letter to Taotao Tano’s Greg Cruz, Higuchi reiterated the need to protect the marine waters and ecosystem in the CNMI.
CUC, he added, has numerous aboveground storage tanks located at each of the power plant facilities, including Tank 104 in Lower Base.
He said CUC also has large quantities of oil stored in drums at the power plant.
“Following the cleanout and testing, CUC must properly repair any issues with each tank that has been assessed. In addition, CUC must develop a corrosion and cathodic protection program for aboveground tanks and pipelines located at Power Plants 1 and 2 to prevent and/or minimize corrosion to tanks, pipelines and other oil containing equipment,” he said.
In Oct. 2006, the EPA issued Clean Water Act 311 administrative order to CUC, which primarily focused on the oil drums in Lower Base.
Higuchi said while CUC made some progress, oil continued to accumulate at the facility and infrastructure continued to degrade.
In Nov. 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the EPA, filed a complaint against CUC and the CNMI for issues at their water, wastewater and power facilities.
Concurrent with the filing, two stipulated orders were submitted to the court to resolve the issues raised by the complaint.
The U.S. District Court for the NMI entered the stipulated orders on March 11, 2009, which requires CUC to comply with the requirements of the orders.
