The Senate held a confirmation hearing on Wednesday for Mr. Douglas Buhr, one of the new nominees to the Board of Directors of the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA).
Buhr is to be the engineer expert on the board and one of the two off-island members.
He is the President and Principal Engineer of Douglas Engineering Pacific Inc. in Hawaii and has 42 years of experience in the electrical industry.
Buhr’s project experience in American Samoa dates back to 1998. During hearing on Wednesday, before the Senate Committee on ASPA, he said his first visit to American Samoa was in 1998 as a consultant to the Malaloa East Side Wastewater Collection System. He also worked on the American Samoa Multi-Purpose Center and the Route 1 Corridor Road and Drainage Reconstruction Project.
Buhr said the most significant local project that he was involved with was serving as expert advisor to ASPA in assessing damages to the Satala Power Plant after the 2009 tsunami. His assessment helped settle ASPA’s insurance claim with Lloyds of London.
In response to questions from Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, Buhr said he was recommended to serve on the ASPA board by Board member Ted Leiato, one of the first people he came to know at ASPA when he started working on projects in the territory.
Asked whether the recommendation was based on his engineering expertise, his ministry, or both, Buhr responded that it was both. In addition to running his company in Hawaii, Buhr is also a Pentecostal pastor to a congregation in Japan.
Another question from the Senate President was who paid for Buhr’s trip to attend the confirmation hearing. The nominee said he was just informed to be here for the hearing and either ASPA or the government paid for his travels. Tuaolo pointed out that travel expenses are paid by ASPA only for confirmed board members.
Questions from Senator Togiola Tulafono focused on Buhr’s professional qualifications. Buhr’s resume lists that he is registered as a professional engineer in Hawaii, California, Illinois, and Oregon, and his licenses are all current.
Senator Olo Uluao Letuli posed this question to the nominee.
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The Senate postponed the vote on Buhr’s nomination until Thursday, as only 10 senators were present on Wednesday and one “no” vote would mean that his nomination is disapproved. Unlike the House, the Senate does not allow reconsiderations for confirmations.
