News Releases from Region 09
EPA awards over $1.9 million to Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands for environmental protection
HONOLULU - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded over $1.9 million to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands in federal funds for CNMI environmental programs to continue environmental protection work.
"CNMI will continue to actively pursue its goals of clean air, water and land," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator. "This funding will enable continued program work and improvements to result in a better environment for the residents of CNMI."
The critical funding will go to support the operations of the CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ). The work done by the agency includes inspections, monitoring the safety of beaches and drinking water, and permit writing. Priorities include:
The EPA's Pacific Southwest Region (Region 9) administers and enforces federal environmental laws in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands and 148 tribal nations -- home to more than 48 million people.