Beautify CNMI in the News

Marianas Variety, Friday, December 8, 2006

EPA lauds NMI for landfill facility
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE NMI is the only jurisdiction in the Pacific region that has a federally compliant landfill facility, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Islands Office.

The EPA officials who arrived here a few days ago said they are satisfied with the state-of-the-art landfill facility in Marpi.

Michael Wolfram, EPA’s Guam program manager, said the CNMI is way ahead of other islands in the Pacific region in the field of solid waste management.

The EPA said the CNMI has effectively addressed problems on solid waste management which were among the major concerns of the federal agency five years ago.

Wolfram said they are also impressed with how the CNMI people are maintaining their islands’ environmental quality.

EPA Pacific islands region manager John McCaroll said they are impressed with the Division of Environmental Quality’s efforts in enlisting the people’s support in the implementation of initiatives that protect the environment.

The EPA lauded DEQ for the Beautify CNMI! coalition which was described as a “great and unique program.”

The EPA officials said local community awareness of environmental concerns has increased, as shown by a lot of different activities that range from cleanup to recycling.

The EPA provides technical assistance, conducts inspections, issues permits and manages grants in helping build local environmental protection capacity.

Last fiscal year, the EPA said it focused on improving access to safe drinking water, coordinated enforcement, environmental compliance and technical assistance, protected ocean and aquatic ecosystems and improved recycling and solid waste management.