Social, economic impacts of Guam buildup are the 'biggest concerns'
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Fitial considers islands 'homeport' for Army joint high-speed vessels
Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho and CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial cited socio-economic impacts as the “biggest” concerns about the massive military buildup in the region, including the lack of funding sources to cushion negative effects to the civilian community worth at least $3 billion in Guam alone and an expected decrease in tourist arrivals on Tinian as a result of increased military presence there.
Guam and the CNMI are racing against time to beat the Feb. 17 deadline for submitting comments on the military buildup's draft environmental impact statement.
The general concern so far is the socio-economic impacts to both Guam and the CNMI, followed by environmental concerns, Camacho and Fitial said.
“We need to be very careful and understand what we are getting into. We don't want to rush into something we don't understand,” Fitial said.
He said the CNMI is “lucky” that it is “learning from Guam's experience.”
'High speed vessels'
Fitial, at the same time, responded to a letter from Guam Sen. Judith Guthertz, who asked whether the CNMI government is interested in having Army joint high speed vessels stationed on Saipan.
“The CNMI will continue to work with and support the territory of Guam in regards to all of the upcoming military realignment in the Pacific region. I will gladly consider having the CNMI as the homeport for stationing and operations of the [joint high speed vessels],” Fitial told Guthertz.
The U.S. Army Environmental Command has opened the public comment period for the preparation of a programmatic environmental impact statement in 2010 for the proposed stationing and operation of up to 12 joint high-speed vessels.
These are strategic transport vessels designed to support the rapid transport of military troops and equipment in the U.S. and abroad.
A copy of the Army's notice of intent is available at www.aec.army.mil.
'Lack of funding sources'
Camacho, who was on Saipan for hours yesterday, said although billions of dollars in construction projects in Guam are promised, “there's no guarantee they will be there tomorrow.”
“There's no funding source to mitigate the impact to our territory,” he said, adding that past experiences resulted in huge debts incurred by Guam that it has come to a point where the island no longer has capability to borrow money.
Camacho said Guam needs a minimum of $3 billion to mitigate the social-impacts of the buildup, but he said no money has been set aside to address these impacts.
He said the buildup cost “should not be something borne by the people,” and that both Japan and the United States should consider the impacts to the host island, including in the area of public health, public safety, schools and housing.
Camacho said another major concern is the environmental impact, including massive dredging of corals at the Apra Harbor.
Guam hired consultants Matrix Design Group to help sift through some 11,000 pages of the draft military buildup EIS for easy understanding.
“No decisions have been made,” Camacho said, adding that comments on the draft EIS will help shape the final EIS to be released later this year.
Tom Linden, the coordinator for the CNMI Military Integration Management Committee, said all comments from mayors have been received and will be finalized this week for submission to the governor. The MIMC seeks to have a unified voice on the planned buildup.
He said there's been no mitigation measure offered so far to address the expected decrease in tourist arrivals to Tinian as a result of limited access to the northern end of the island because of military training.
Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz said Tinian has been “waiting” for the military buildup on Tinian for “30 years,” and hopes the U.S. military will have a permanent base on the island. He hopes an expected decrease in civilian tourist arrivals to the island will be mitigated by an increase in military personnel and their families' visit to Tinian for rest and recreation.
Dela Cruz also said the military should ensure an effective quarantine system to prevent brown tree snakes, rhinoceros beetles and other invasive species from entering Tinian.
Dela Cruz also informed Fitial and Camacho yesterday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told him that the federal agency will issue the Tinian municipality a citation this month because of a non-compliant landfill. He did not elaborate when asked for more information about EPA's citation.
Camacho formally asked U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to delay the implementation of the military buildup in Guam beyond 2014 “to protect the integrity of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and ensure that impacts are minimized to our island infrastructure and socioeconomic services.”
As of yesterday, Guam has yet to receive a response to this request from the U.S. Navy.
But Camacho, in an interview with Saipan Tribune, said he will bring up the issue in the upcoming National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C.
'Move them to Tinian'
Guthertz also urged federal officials to stretch the timeline for the military buildup to alleviate the adverse impacts expected with the population boom.
Guthertz, who chairs the Committee on the Guam Military Buildup and Homeland Security, recommended that the planned relocation of the 8,000 Marines to Guam be reduced by about 4,000.
She said the First Marine Aircraft Wing aviation command can be shifted to Tinian and the uninhabited island of Agrigan in the CNMI.
This, she said, would allow for the relocation of about half of the 8,652 infantry Marines intended to be transferred to Guam to be sent to the vacated Futenma facilities instead.
Because Guam cannot accommodate all training for the relocating Marines, the military also looks at Tinian to provide opportunities for training groups of 200 Marines or larger due to greater land availability.
Showing posts with label Public Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public Health. Show all posts
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Upped demand for social services worries agencies
Upped demand for social services worries agencies
Friday, 05 February 2010 01:01
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
THE anticipation of over 35,000 civilians who will make Guam their home once the military buildup has reached steady state by 2014 and the impact of increased demand for services are a serious matter that department heads acknowledged yesterday.
However, officials have yet to quantify the financial impact of providing social services to these newcomers.
“This information is critical because these costs need to be quantified and I was hoping that was what these departments and agencies had. It was very, very disappointing. It’s a lot of information, I understand this,” said Sen. Frank Aguon Jr., chairman of the health committee.
“The problem is that they’re working their daily job, but it might be that they don’t have the capacity or the expertise to be able to go out and get those numbers. If you don’t have the resources to get those critical numbers, then how are we going to know exactly how much it’s going to cost to meet our needs,” he added.
During the committee’s roundtable discussion, heads of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, the Department of Public Health and Social Services and the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disablities, informed lawmakers that their departments are not ready for the additional influx of people.
However, not all of them could provide numbers as to what their agency would need and what each agency’s plan was to meet the increase.
Each one reiterated the shortages at all levels of critical health care positions such as the lack of doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists, social workers, case workers, and other health and social care providers that are critical to the daily operations of each department.
Aguon said he had hoped that the presentations would have provided solid information that were quantifiable in terms of how much each department will need to hire, maintain and enhance its department so that the information will be provided to the federal government in which Guam can say it has the numbers and will the government assist in funding these critical needs.
DISID director Rosanne Ada identified buildup-related issues that would greatly affect the services it provides and the direct impact to its disabled consumers.
Ada said the influx of immigrants from neighboring islands and military dependents seeking jobs may reduce the number of job opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Nevertheless, Ada said that military dependents and families of contract workers may be a source of professional and technical resources for specialized needs of individuals with disabilities such as therapeutic foster parents, teachers, nurses, therapists, job coaches and language interpreters.
Ada did not know if the military will give seeing impaired vendors first priority to operate vending shops on military property under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, or whether the military dining and recreational facilities would train and hire individuals with disabilities.
Another issue is that DISID has not had the chance to establish credible policies and procedures and standards of care that are anywhere near the Department of Defense standard of care and so DISID stands at risk of providing services that may be perceived by the military as sub-standard care, said Dr. Zeni Natividad.
Friday, 05 February 2010 01:01
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
THE anticipation of over 35,000 civilians who will make Guam their home once the military buildup has reached steady state by 2014 and the impact of increased demand for services are a serious matter that department heads acknowledged yesterday.
However, officials have yet to quantify the financial impact of providing social services to these newcomers.
“This information is critical because these costs need to be quantified and I was hoping that was what these departments and agencies had. It was very, very disappointing. It’s a lot of information, I understand this,” said Sen. Frank Aguon Jr., chairman of the health committee.
“The problem is that they’re working their daily job, but it might be that they don’t have the capacity or the expertise to be able to go out and get those numbers. If you don’t have the resources to get those critical numbers, then how are we going to know exactly how much it’s going to cost to meet our needs,” he added.
During the committee’s roundtable discussion, heads of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, the Department of Public Health and Social Services and the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disablities, informed lawmakers that their departments are not ready for the additional influx of people.
However, not all of them could provide numbers as to what their agency would need and what each agency’s plan was to meet the increase.
Each one reiterated the shortages at all levels of critical health care positions such as the lack of doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists, social workers, case workers, and other health and social care providers that are critical to the daily operations of each department.
Aguon said he had hoped that the presentations would have provided solid information that were quantifiable in terms of how much each department will need to hire, maintain and enhance its department so that the information will be provided to the federal government in which Guam can say it has the numbers and will the government assist in funding these critical needs.
DISID director Rosanne Ada identified buildup-related issues that would greatly affect the services it provides and the direct impact to its disabled consumers.
Ada said the influx of immigrants from neighboring islands and military dependents seeking jobs may reduce the number of job opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Nevertheless, Ada said that military dependents and families of contract workers may be a source of professional and technical resources for specialized needs of individuals with disabilities such as therapeutic foster parents, teachers, nurses, therapists, job coaches and language interpreters.
Ada did not know if the military will give seeing impaired vendors first priority to operate vending shops on military property under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, or whether the military dining and recreational facilities would train and hire individuals with disabilities.
Another issue is that DISID has not had the chance to establish credible policies and procedures and standards of care that are anywhere near the Department of Defense standard of care and so DISID stands at risk of providing services that may be perceived by the military as sub-standard care, said Dr. Zeni Natividad.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Buildup's healthcare impacts discussed
Buildup's healthcare impacts discussed
Posted: Feb 03, 2010 10:11 PM PST
by Janjeera Hail
Guam - Serious concerns were raised at this morning's roundtable meeting as government and healthcare leaders met to discuss how the military buildup will impact healthcare in the coming years. This morning representatives from the island's major health departments met with the 30th Guam Legislature's Health Committee to discuss their concerns on how the military buildup will impact care on Guam.
Key staff from DISID, Mental Health, Public Health and the Guam Memorial Hospital spoke about the challenges that would come with the buildup, particularly that Guam is already struggling for resources based on the current demand for services. GMH Administrator Peter John Camacho said, "We think about the buildup and some of that is already happening, we're faced with that every day now. And so we're looking at how we can adjust to meet those needs now and still looking ahead to 2014."
In order to serve a growing population, the island will need to attract more qualified healthcare professionals. But according to Public Health Chief Public Health Officer Marylou Loualhati, even the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is underestimating just how many will be needed and Guam is already faces challenges with recruiting.
"It has to do with compensation. We have a difficult time recruiting even though we're considered and classified as a health professional shortage area we still do not have the number of doctors that we need to have in our community health centers," she said.
Mental Health Clinical Administrator Dr. Andrea Leitheiser says that although the military has its own health services, the buildup will still be a strain on her agency because there may also be a large number of servicemen coming to Mental Health to avoid alerting their commanding officers. Like her colleagues at other agencies, she felt that the DEIS just didn't have enough information.
She said, "My personal opinion no. we do need more utilization rates. We need to know for the incoming serviceman just what occurred. What were the diagnosis, what was the treatment, what was the outcome. We also need to know what they did in the community. We also need to know about the debriefing."
Today's roundtable emphasized a lot of the existing concerns associated with healthcare and the military buildup, but also stressed the importance of the need for more information.
Posted: Feb 03, 2010 10:11 PM PST
by Janjeera Hail
Guam - Serious concerns were raised at this morning's roundtable meeting as government and healthcare leaders met to discuss how the military buildup will impact healthcare in the coming years. This morning representatives from the island's major health departments met with the 30th Guam Legislature's Health Committee to discuss their concerns on how the military buildup will impact care on Guam.
Key staff from DISID, Mental Health, Public Health and the Guam Memorial Hospital spoke about the challenges that would come with the buildup, particularly that Guam is already struggling for resources based on the current demand for services. GMH Administrator Peter John Camacho said, "We think about the buildup and some of that is already happening, we're faced with that every day now. And so we're looking at how we can adjust to meet those needs now and still looking ahead to 2014."
In order to serve a growing population, the island will need to attract more qualified healthcare professionals. But according to Public Health Chief Public Health Officer Marylou Loualhati, even the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is underestimating just how many will be needed and Guam is already faces challenges with recruiting.
"It has to do with compensation. We have a difficult time recruiting even though we're considered and classified as a health professional shortage area we still do not have the number of doctors that we need to have in our community health centers," she said.
Mental Health Clinical Administrator Dr. Andrea Leitheiser says that although the military has its own health services, the buildup will still be a strain on her agency because there may also be a large number of servicemen coming to Mental Health to avoid alerting their commanding officers. Like her colleagues at other agencies, she felt that the DEIS just didn't have enough information.
She said, "My personal opinion no. we do need more utilization rates. We need to know for the incoming serviceman just what occurred. What were the diagnosis, what was the treatment, what was the outcome. We also need to know what they did in the community. We also need to know about the debriefing."
Today's roundtable emphasized a lot of the existing concerns associated with healthcare and the military buildup, but also stressed the importance of the need for more information.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
US Agency Changes Mind on Health Risk in Vieques
US Agency Changes Mind on Health Risk in Vieques
07 December 2009
Press Release
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.)
Federal Agency to Change its Early Conclusions on Environmental Assessment in Vieques
November 13, 2009
ATLANTA-The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has signaled its intent to modify some of its earlier conclusions about health risks to residents of the Island of Vieques. The decision was shared during a meeting with scientists from Puerto Rico and followed a thorough review of ATSDR public health assessments finalized in 2003 and other environmental studies of the island conducted in the intervening years. ATSDR’s re-examination of the data comes as part of a "fresh look" the federal public health agency pledged to island residents and Congress.
"A thorough and objective review of the available data is an important step in our commitment to the people of Vieques", said Dr. Howard Frumkin, agency director. "Much has been learned since we first went to Vieques a decade ago, and we have identified gaps in environmental data that could be important in determining health effects." We are committed to using the best technology and scientific expertise to help find answers for the people of Vieques.
"The gaps we found indicate that we cannot state unequivocally that no health hazards exist in Vieques. We have found reason to pose further questions," Frumkin said. As a result of the scientific consultation and its document review, ATSDR expects to:
• change some of its earlier conclusions regarding the safety of environmental exposures on Vieques;
• recommend bio-monitoring to determine whether persons living on Vieques have been exposed to harmful chemicals, and, if so, at what levels those chemicals may be in their bodies;
• work with Puerto Rican health officials to conduct more in-depth evaluation of health outcomes;
• work with community members and Puerto Rican health officials to issue science-based, precautionary recommendations to protect public health;
• work with partners in the Puerto Rican health care community to encourage improved access to health care for residents of Vieques; and
• coordinate an inclusive, accountable process featuring participation of Puerto Rican community members and professionals in moving forward.
ATSDR scientists will prepare a summary report of the previous environmental health work done for Vieques, including recommendations developed from the scientific consultation. As part of the scientific process, this report will be peer reviewed by independent experts. Once peer review is completed, ATSDR will provide detailed recommendations about future activities.
"ATSDR greatly appreciates the scientists taking time to travel to Atlanta and share their findings and perspectives. We salute the independent scientists and community leaders for their dedication to the health of the people of Vieques, and we look forward to working with them as we move forward with our fresh look at Vieques," Frumkin said.
07 December 2009
Press Release
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR, a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, evaluates the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.)
Federal Agency to Change its Early Conclusions on Environmental Assessment in Vieques
November 13, 2009
ATLANTA-The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has signaled its intent to modify some of its earlier conclusions about health risks to residents of the Island of Vieques. The decision was shared during a meeting with scientists from Puerto Rico and followed a thorough review of ATSDR public health assessments finalized in 2003 and other environmental studies of the island conducted in the intervening years. ATSDR’s re-examination of the data comes as part of a "fresh look" the federal public health agency pledged to island residents and Congress.
"A thorough and objective review of the available data is an important step in our commitment to the people of Vieques", said Dr. Howard Frumkin, agency director. "Much has been learned since we first went to Vieques a decade ago, and we have identified gaps in environmental data that could be important in determining health effects." We are committed to using the best technology and scientific expertise to help find answers for the people of Vieques.
"The gaps we found indicate that we cannot state unequivocally that no health hazards exist in Vieques. We have found reason to pose further questions," Frumkin said. As a result of the scientific consultation and its document review, ATSDR expects to:
• change some of its earlier conclusions regarding the safety of environmental exposures on Vieques;
• recommend bio-monitoring to determine whether persons living on Vieques have been exposed to harmful chemicals, and, if so, at what levels those chemicals may be in their bodies;
• work with Puerto Rican health officials to conduct more in-depth evaluation of health outcomes;
• work with community members and Puerto Rican health officials to issue science-based, precautionary recommendations to protect public health;
• work with partners in the Puerto Rican health care community to encourage improved access to health care for residents of Vieques; and
• coordinate an inclusive, accountable process featuring participation of Puerto Rican community members and professionals in moving forward.
ATSDR scientists will prepare a summary report of the previous environmental health work done for Vieques, including recommendations developed from the scientific consultation. As part of the scientific process, this report will be peer reviewed by independent experts. Once peer review is completed, ATSDR will provide detailed recommendations about future activities.
"ATSDR greatly appreciates the scientists taking time to travel to Atlanta and share their findings and perspectives. We salute the independent scientists and community leaders for their dedication to the health of the people of Vieques, and we look forward to working with them as we move forward with our fresh look at Vieques," Frumkin said.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Fitial wants a more specific recruitment plan from DPH
Fitial wants a more specific recruitment plan from DPH
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said yesterday he received a draft plan from the Department of Public Health on appropriate recruitment strategies in connection with his Oct. 20 declaration of health emergency for the CNMI that will pave the way for the hiring of doctors from outside the U.S. and Canada.
“They gave me a draft but I asked them to change it because it's very vague. There is no clear delineation of duties and responsibilities,” he said.
Fitial is supposed to meet with DPH officials on the issue yesterday.
The governor, in his declaration, ordered DPH to immediately adopt new recruitment strategies to restore an adequate level of medical services at the hospital.
He also directed the Medical Profession Licensing Board, which is now known as the Health Care Professions Licensing Board, “to review and revise regulations so that expanded medical services may be provided to the client population of the Commonwealth” within 15 days of the Oct. 20 declaration.
The Health Care Professions Licensing Board is set to have a regular board meeting at 12:30pm today in conference room #3 at the Dr. Jose T. Villagomez Center for Public Health and Dialysis Center. One of the items on the board's agenda is the “CHC emergency declaration.”
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said yesterday he received a draft plan from the Department of Public Health on appropriate recruitment strategies in connection with his Oct. 20 declaration of health emergency for the CNMI that will pave the way for the hiring of doctors from outside the U.S. and Canada.
“They gave me a draft but I asked them to change it because it's very vague. There is no clear delineation of duties and responsibilities,” he said.
Fitial is supposed to meet with DPH officials on the issue yesterday.
The governor, in his declaration, ordered DPH to immediately adopt new recruitment strategies to restore an adequate level of medical services at the hospital.
He also directed the Medical Profession Licensing Board, which is now known as the Health Care Professions Licensing Board, “to review and revise regulations so that expanded medical services may be provided to the client population of the Commonwealth” within 15 days of the Oct. 20 declaration.
The Health Care Professions Licensing Board is set to have a regular board meeting at 12:30pm today in conference room #3 at the Dr. Jose T. Villagomez Center for Public Health and Dialysis Center. One of the items on the board's agenda is the “CHC emergency declaration.”
Saturday, June 20, 2009
GovGuam Agencies Owe $800,000 in Back Rent
Agencies owe $800k in back rent
By Steve Limtiaco
Pacific Daily News
June 22, 2009
The Guam Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Public Health and Social Services owe more than $800,000 in back rent to the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission, according to the commission -- money that is supposed to be put into a trust to benefit ancestral landowners.
The two agencies use office space in former military buildings on Tiyan that now are part of the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission inventory. The property licensed to the agencies is former Spanish crown land, which means there are no original owners to claim it.
The commission, which admittedly has little experience leasing property, last month turned the matter over to the Guam Economic Development Authority for collection. At least one of the agencies is disputing the amount owed.
GEDA, which has experience leasing government land, since 2007 has been helping the commission lease Spanish crown land to generate money for the landowner's trust. It did not negotiate the licenses with Public Health and Guam EPA.
At the end of last year, the landowner's trust held $397,657, according to a financial statement prepared by the commission. That money is supposed to compensate ancestral landowners or their heirs if their property was returned by the federal government but still is being held by the local government.
Public Health, which uses the Tiyan building for its Women, Infants and Children program, owes the commission much more than that, according to an invoice prepared by GEDA -- $432,000.
And Guam EPA owes the commission $371,278, according to a GEDA invoice.
The two agencies each are using 8,000 square feet of space, which requires them to pay $8,000 per month, according to their licensing agreements -- payments that started in late 2004.
That means each agency should have paid $480,000 by now, according to the GEDA invoices, but Public Health has paid only $48,000 and Guam EPA has paid only $108,721.10.
Guam EPA Administrator Lorilee Crisostomo said her agency disputes the amount owed.
She said rental payments were withheld years ago because of disparities in the way different agencies were being charged for the use of Ancestral Lands property.
According to a 2006 audit by the Office of the Public Auditor, Guam EPA and Public Health were being asked to pay thousands of dollars a month to use the land while the Guam Police Department and Guam Fire Department, which were using more land, were not being charged at all.
"They are only pushing us because we are federally funded," Crisostomo said.
She said Guam EPA already has paid what it owes for past years and it only owes money for the current year.
Crisostomo said Guam EPA cannot legally pay any other past amounts without permission from lawmakers.
Guam EPA also uses an airport-owned building on Tiyan for its administrative offices, but Crisostomo said the airport does not charge any rent. Guam EPA is required to maintain the property in lieu of rent, she said.
In contrast, she said the Ancestral Lands Commission is charging Guam EPA thousands of dollars a month for a building Ancestral Lands does not maintain.
Public Health Director J. Peter Roberto did not return a call for comment.
By Steve Limtiaco
Pacific Daily News
June 22, 2009
The Guam Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Public Health and Social Services owe more than $800,000 in back rent to the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission, according to the commission -- money that is supposed to be put into a trust to benefit ancestral landowners.
The two agencies use office space in former military buildings on Tiyan that now are part of the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission inventory. The property licensed to the agencies is former Spanish crown land, which means there are no original owners to claim it.
The commission, which admittedly has little experience leasing property, last month turned the matter over to the Guam Economic Development Authority for collection. At least one of the agencies is disputing the amount owed.
GEDA, which has experience leasing government land, since 2007 has been helping the commission lease Spanish crown land to generate money for the landowner's trust. It did not negotiate the licenses with Public Health and Guam EPA.
At the end of last year, the landowner's trust held $397,657, according to a financial statement prepared by the commission. That money is supposed to compensate ancestral landowners or their heirs if their property was returned by the federal government but still is being held by the local government.
Public Health, which uses the Tiyan building for its Women, Infants and Children program, owes the commission much more than that, according to an invoice prepared by GEDA -- $432,000.
And Guam EPA owes the commission $371,278, according to a GEDA invoice.
The two agencies each are using 8,000 square feet of space, which requires them to pay $8,000 per month, according to their licensing agreements -- payments that started in late 2004.
That means each agency should have paid $480,000 by now, according to the GEDA invoices, but Public Health has paid only $48,000 and Guam EPA has paid only $108,721.10.
Guam EPA Administrator Lorilee Crisostomo said her agency disputes the amount owed.
She said rental payments were withheld years ago because of disparities in the way different agencies were being charged for the use of Ancestral Lands property.
According to a 2006 audit by the Office of the Public Auditor, Guam EPA and Public Health were being asked to pay thousands of dollars a month to use the land while the Guam Police Department and Guam Fire Department, which were using more land, were not being charged at all.
"They are only pushing us because we are federally funded," Crisostomo said.
She said Guam EPA already has paid what it owes for past years and it only owes money for the current year.
Crisostomo said Guam EPA cannot legally pay any other past amounts without permission from lawmakers.
Guam EPA also uses an airport-owned building on Tiyan for its administrative offices, but Crisostomo said the airport does not charge any rent. Guam EPA is required to maintain the property in lieu of rent, she said.
In contrast, she said the Ancestral Lands Commission is charging Guam EPA thousands of dollars a month for a building Ancestral Lands does not maintain.
Public Health Director J. Peter Roberto did not return a call for comment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)