The Fono building, StarKist Samoa’s permit for dumping tuna sludge in Pago Pago Harbor and funding for the Hawaki Cable were the main issues that the ASG delegation discussed with the Department of Interior last Tuesday.
Lt Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga led the delegation which met with Assistant Secretary Doug Domenech and Director of the Office of Insular Affairs Nikolao Pula.
Mr Pula said in a telephone interview with KHJ News that DOI has had a discussion with FEMA concerning the Fono building and the ASG delegation was to meet with FEMA Region 9 in Oakland, California to resolve the issue concerning requirements for construction in a flood zone area.
Mr Pula said the delegation conveyed there was no intention to circumvent any laws and he was hopeful that the meeting with FEMA Region 9 would provide a way forward on the Fono building project.
Region 9 Administrator Robert Fenton had informed Governor Lolo in August that future disaster funding for American Samoa would be in jeopardy if the territory is suspended from the Flood Insurance Program which covers facilities built in flood zone areas damaged during a disaster.
And suspension is a possibility if the foundation for the new building doesn’t meet local and federal requirements for construction in a flood zone area.
Regarding the StarKist permit to dump tuna wastes in Pago Pago Harbor Pula said this matter will also need further discussion between ASG and USEPA but from what he gathered there was already discussions involving USEPA, StarKist and the American Samoa EPA Office.
Pula said Assistant Secretary Domenech also wanted to get a clearer idea from the delegation what exactly it needed from DOI relating to fishing access in areas included in the Pacific Monument.
Commenting on discussions concerning funding for the Hawaiki Cable the OIA Director said this was a bit complex.
The presentation was by the governor’s telecommunications consultant Adolfo Montenegro and covered the financing from the Retirement Fund already spent on the cable, as well as ASTCA’s financial position.
Pula said that the ASG delegation raised the possibility of rewriting the tobacco loan settlement and use some of the funds to pay for the Hawaiki Cable as a payment was due in early 2019.
However DOI’s response is that this cannot be done as the tobacco loan settlement was a one time agreement and DOI’s only role is to monitor the implementation.
Under a Master Tobacco Settlement Agreement, states and territories were awarded monies by major U.S. tobacco companies to settle a lawsuit against the companies for causing health problems from their tobacco products.
American Samoa opted for an $18.6 million loan from the federal government, and used proceeds from the settlement to repay the loan.
It’s not exactly clear what the ASG delegation wanted changed or if there’s money left over from the settlement.
Other than Lt. Governor Lemanu, other member of the ASG delegation included Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale, Governor’s Executive Assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira, Deputy Counsel to the Governor, Alema Leota and Adolfo Montenegro.
