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ASG chemical review task force established

American Samoa Executive Office Building
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has established an ASG eight-member Chemical Review Task Force, which is given 90-days to submit a report with recommendations on steps the government should take to prevent the importation of illegal chemical and fertilizers to the territory .

“Our inability to determine what is being injected into the land, and possible health hazard effects on our people, is unacceptable and disconcerting,” said Lolo in a memo issued more than a week ago, establishing the task force.

According to the governor, the task force is to check chemicals and fertilizers imported to the territory to ensure such chemicals and fertilizers meet local law and federal regulations. The task force is also to determine if there’s legal justification to stop the entry of fertilizers and chemicals that are deemed harmful.

Task force members are Agriculture director, Filifaatali Mike Fuiava (who is the chairman); American Samoa Environmental Protecton Agency acting director, Faamao Asalele Jr; Deputy Treasurer for Revenue, Keith Gebauer; Port Administration official, Gus Godinet; Commerce Department acting director, Uili Leauanae; Health Department senior official Papalii Marion Fitisemanu, Chief Immigration Officer, Peseta Dennis Lutu; and the governor’s deputy legal counsel, Alema Leota.