BECQ moving forward with new Capitol Hill HQ, modern laboratory

The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality is moving forward with plans for a new headquarters on Capitol Hill, a federally funded facility that will bring its divisions under one roof and feature a modern laboratory capable of expanding environmental testing services in the CNMI.

BECQ Administrator Floyd Masga said the project has been in the works since 2023 and has now entered its architectural and engineering phase. The funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under a program Masga identified as covering emerging contaminants and small and disadvantaged communities.

“We have the funding to complete the entirety of this project, all the way to construction,” Masga told Marianas Press during an interview last Aug. 26 at BECQ’s current office in Gualo Rai along Middle Road.

Masga declined to disclose the total amount available for the project because of the ongoing procurement process.

The new facility will house both the Division of Environmental Quality and Division of Coastal Resources Management, consolidating BECQ operations in one location. The building is being designed around the agency’s staffing, equipment, laboratory, and records-storage requirements.

“We are looking at between two to three years,” Masga said of the project timeline.

Once the architectural and engineering work is completed, Masga said BECQ expects to move into the next stage in 2027, most likely by June.

One of the biggest improvements will be the laboratory, which is expected to increase the types of environmental testing BECQ can conduct for the Commonwealth.

Masga said BECQ is using a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers design for the building and nationwide standards for its laboratory.

“We're also using nationwide standards with regard to the laboratory,” Masga said. “And that actually will expand our services with regard to more and other testing capabilities for the Commonwealth.”

The new headquarters is also expected to make BECQ services more accessible to residents and businesses. Masga said having personnel together in one location would provide a better working environment while helping streamline such public-facing services as permitting.

BECQ currently operates from leased office space in Gualo Rai. Masga said having its own building would result in substantial monthly and annual savings, although the agency would assume expenses associated with maintaining the facility, including generator maintenance and janitorial services.

Beyond the savings and improved working conditions, Masga said the new headquarters and expanded laboratory services ultimately would strengthen BECQ’s ability to serve the community and protect the CNMI’s environment.

“The ultimate goal is, of course, health, public health, environmental,” Masga said. “And, you know, by us having this building as well and having the services, we can help our community better as well.”

The Capitol Hill location would also place BECQ closer to the Governor’s Office and other government and environmental offices.

Masga credited BECQ employees for continuing to carry out the agency’s responsibilities despite natural disasters and uncertainty surrounding funding.

“They've worked hard since Day 1 that I came on board,” he said. “And they are continuing to do an excellent job, even with natural disasters, as well as, you know, uncertainty within our community, i.e. with funding as well as federal funding as well.”