Voices were raised during a Senate hearing on the status of the new Fono Building project this morning.
Conducted by the Chairman of the Public Works Committee, Senator Faamausili Mau Mau Jr., the witnesses were Director of Public Works Faleosina Voigt and head of the Architectural Division Joseph Pereira. 
Voigt explained that from the discussions ASG has held with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the feds had initially wanted to do a study of the area where the new building is located. The study was supposed to be completed in February, at which time an option for the foundation of the building would have been made.
However, FEMA now wants to do a study of the whole territory for flood zone designation purposes.
The Public Works director said this study would not be completed until the end of the year.
In the meantime, ASG is collecting information on the cost of driving piles for the foundation.
ASG was also hoping to obtain a variance to change the designation of the site of the building from a VE Zone.
Voigt said the ultimate decision on how to proceed with the Fono building will be made by the government leaders. ASG has requested FEMA to fund additional costs if the design of the foundation is changed to meet federal requirements.
As listeners would recall, FEMA had informed the governor last year that if the Fono building project goes ahead without complying with requirements of the flood insurance program for construction in a VE Zone, it may result in the territory being suspended from the program. This would likely affect future FEMA and other federal grant programs for the territory.
Senator Logoai Siaki, after learning that FEMA is not funding the Fono building, said there’s no reason why the project was halted and FEMA has no business telling the territory what to do.
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He said if he was governor, he would have resumed the project. “This is the government of American Samoa. FEMA should not tell us what to do.”
Logoai remarked that once a disaster strikes and the president of the United States declares American Samoa a disaster area, the assistance will come.
The Public Works director repeatedly explained that if the territory is found not in compliance with federal regulations, it will be put on probation for one year then after that, it can be suspended.
And that will curtail funding for disaster assistance.
She said ASG is also seeking a second opinion and hired a contractor to study what options to take. The contractor is collecting information on the cost of using piles and how long the project would take because of the additional work.
During the hearing, Senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga showed the director of Public Works a copy of the conceptual drawing of the Fono building.
The drawing was that of a two story building with open space on the first floor and offices at the top.
He asked why Public Works approved a design that was different to that drawing.
Voigt explained this was just a conceptual drawing used during the land use permit application.
Senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga was of the opinion that FEMA’s instructions should be followed and if FEMA says the foundation should be on piles, the government should comply.
He said the government is the one disobeying regulations and his worry is that if a hurricane or other disaster strikes, FEMA will refuse assistance for American Samoa.
But Senator Tuiagamoa Tavai said FEMA was just an agency and if this was the White House ordering the territory what to do, he would be concerned.
He urged the Public Works officials to stand up to FEMA and resume work on the Fono building.
Senator Muagututitia said he would rather the government demolish the foundation, start the building from scratch and do it right.
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He said he wasn’t concerned about finishing the building before their tenure ends, but to build something that lasts into the future.
Sen Muagututia said he doesn’t want the Fono building to be like an unfinished tattoo which brings embarrassment and shame.
