The Division of Environmental Quality has cited three businesses for illegal dumping violations that could carry penalties of up to $25,000 per offense, according to Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality Administrator Floyd Masga.
Masga said DEQ has stepped up enforcement efforts as government agencies continue clearing debris left behind by Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
"The Division of Environmental Quality has already cited three companies or three individuals with regard to illegal dumping," Masga told Marianas Press in an interview last June 17.
Masga said two of the three businesses quickly addressed the violations after being notified by DEQ. Investigators later determined that much of the debris had been dumped by others.
"We're very happy with two of the companies so far. They immediately took care of the situation," he said.
According to Masga, the businesses cleared the debris within about 90 minutes and ultimately received warnings instead of fines.
The third business remains in the enforcement process.
"We're waiting on that," Masga said.
He said businesses that receive a notice of violation are generally given five days to correct the problem before the matter is elevated for further action.
Masga said DEQ is also investigating approximately 15 residents for possible illegal dumping violations.
"We're talking, we're actually at maybe close to 15 of them right now," he said.
Those cases remain under investigation and could be subject to the same enforcement process, including potential fines.
Masga said one of the agency's biggest frustrations is seeing trash reappear shortly after cleanup crews remove it.
"Garbage that's been removed, for example, with [the U.S.] Army Corps of Engineers, as well as [the Department of Public Works], Parks & Rec (Division of Parks & Recreation, and the [Saipan Mayor’s Office], a miracle appears the following day. There's trash again," he said.
He noted that much of the material being dumped is not typhoon-related and includes household waste, food waste, used cooking oil, and other items that can create environmental and public health concerns.
Masga urged residents and businesses to work with government agencies as recovery efforts continue.
"If you need help, ask for help," he said. "The agencies are out there to help as well."
"The only way we can do this, we got to do it together. There's no other way. If the residents don't do their part, it's going to make it more difficult and it's going to delay the process,” he added.
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