Reacting to Salazar’s telling Gov. Benigno R. Fitial that he, the Interior chief, was not aware of any setbacks created by the Endangered Species Act to the CNMI, Torres told the Interior secretary about the copies of two resolutions that the CNMI Legislature sent to his office in 2009.
Fitial, during his recent visit in the nation’s capital, raised concerns about the Endangered Species Act’s impact on economic development in the CNMI.
The windward road project that will connect Calabera and Talafofo in the north-east side of Saipan has been delayed because there’s a portion that has become a home to the nightingale reed-warbler which is listed as endangered species by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.
The House of Representatives on June 25, 2010 adopted a resolution urging U.S. Fish and Wildlife acting Director Rowan Gould to support the review of the reclassification of the reed-warbler from being an endangered species list for the sake of the CNMI’s economic gain and prosperity.
Torres, in his letter, asked Salazar to help the CNMI survive the “unnecessary restrictions that are hampering our island life style and business growth.”
“Frankly, the reed-warbler is becoming overabundant in our islands and a nuisance,” Torres said, as he invited Salazar to send his people here so they can see the problem areas themselves.
Torres also said last year, U.S. Fish and Wildlife said it would not revisit the islands until after five years.
