No order to stop construction of Fale Fono

new-fono-building

There’s been no order given by any local regulatory agency to the contractor for the new Fono building, Paramount Builders, to stop construction.

That’s according to company owner Papalii Laulii Alofa

Asked for a reaction on the correspondence from the Federal Emergency Management Agency raising questions about the construction of the foundation of the building not meeting both local and federal regulations for building in a  flood zone area, Papalii said he has not read the FEMA letter.

He told KHJ News that the construction is following the engineering designs.

Papalii said that as of yesterday the project was still ongoing and there has not been any directive to halt construction.

He said that they are awaiting a lot of supplies and materials and that’s why there’s been no activity at the site when KHJ News checked it yesterday.

We asked the governor’s executive assistant Iulogologo Joseph  Pereira if the governor has responded to the letter from FEMA Region IX Regional Administrator Robert Fenton and his answer was no.

Fenton informed the governor in an August 20 letter that buildings using a perimeter foundation, fill or an elevated slab are not permitted in the Flood Zone VE, where the Fono building is in.

The orginal design of the building was an elevated structure on piles or piers with parking underneath which according to FEMA complied with regulations.

However the design was later modified to include a perimeter foundation and backfilled.

This is the type of structure FEMA says is not permitted in this area.

FEMA has warned that American Samoa may face suspension from the Flood Disaster Protection Act for violating the regulations and this would nay jeopardize future funding from FEMA in the next declared disaster.

In addition other federal agencies such as Interior would be prohibited from funding construction projects in the special flood hazard area.