He said he now appreciates the recognition given to the CNMI’s unique environment.
This would not have been possible without the intervention of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, he added.
“Our objectives…were very simple: to put aside the very divisive advocacy of the Pew Foundation on this subject and to focus on the need to protect the interests of the people of the commonwealth,” he said.
Fitial commended James Connaughton, the council chairman, who visited Saipan in Oct. 2008, for addressing the CNMI’s concerns.
“They reexamined the initial range of proposals in light of these concerns and worked constructively to address them,” the governor said. “ I believe that the end result is an example of how federal and local officials can work together productively to achieve a common objective.”
He said the final version of the declaration will no longer intrude into the CNMI indigenous people’s right to their ancestral marine heritage.
“The designation defers to the local commonwealth government to determine what traditional indigenous fishing should take place within this protected area,” Fitial said. “[It] does not conflict with areas where potential mineral deposits are most likely to be found.”
He said he supported the proposal after the Bush administration pledged to give the CNMI access to its submerged lands.
