This lease authorizes the NOAA to build, operate and maintain a U.S. National Weather Service office on the three parcels of land located in Kolonia town, which it currently occupies.
As a result of this agreement, Pohnpei agrees to make available the land to NOAA at no cost.
NOAA plans on building two new structures, removing the old ones as it builds the new ones.
One of the new buildings will function as the office and operations center and the other will be a new upper air inflation building which will allow for atmospheric soundings and weather balloon launches to gather data. The weather service personnel can then use the collected data to create a “snapshot” of the current state of the atmosphere.
In exchange for the lease, NOAA will make available to Pohnpei, without compensation, the services and related programs of the U.S. National Weather Service.
Such services include supporting the FSM National Weather Service and providing equipment, training and maintenance support for local personnel.
The Weather Service Office in Pohnpei currently employs 12 people and no change is expected as a result of the new construction.
The agreement was signed by Pohnpei Gov. John Ehsa and Ralph “Jeff” Ladouce, director of the U.S. National Weather Service Office in the Pacific Region.
At the end of the 20-year term of the agreement, NOAA will have the option to request a succeeding lease agreement of up to another 20 years.
