The America Samoa Environmental Protection Agency 100 days report consists of a compilation of highly successful cost containment initiatives and measures taken in the first 100 days of the administration, according to the report prepared by AS-EPA Director, Ameko Pato.

The report also indicated that AS-EPA underwent minor personnel changes, which were made in order to address ongoing administrative issues that carried over from the previous administration. These personnel changes resulted in a significant shift and change in staff morale, according to the director.

COST CONTAINMENT MEASURES

Pato said his department’s measures and initiatives demonstrate their compliance with the government’s overall cost containment policy.

AS-EPA cost containment measures, according to Pato, include the development of an e-filing system within EPA’s data base network, which will eliminate the need for manual filing and the need to purchase additional paper, folders, and bulky file cabinets.

He also noted that AS-EPA is implementing a free long distance plan by taking advantage of their increased internet bandwidth.

“This free long distance phone system uses applications from google that are linked to our network data base system and will serve as our primary long distance phone system. Our regular ASTCA phone system will serve as our secondary long distance phone system.

“We recently completed a trial run… and as a result, we will launch our new free long distance phone system immediately. Access to both primary and secondary long distance plans are limited to upper management and middle management… we are anticipating more than 50% reduction in our long distance monthly bill once this system is established.”

CELL PHONES

He also explained that after a thorough review of their cell phone usage and distribution, EPA "has deactivated two of our cell phones and implemented a stringent monitoring program to monitor all cell phone usage on a monthly basis.” This includes using cell phones only during working hours, turning them in at the end of the business day. Exceptions are the director and the 24-hour response personnel.

VEHICLE FLEET AND USAGE

According to the 100 days report, after a thorough review of the vehicle fleet, EPA has recently surveyed two vehicles which are more than ten years old and requested that the vehicles be transferred to the Department of Health, as they are in dire need of vehicles.

Also, they have reduced their 24-hour emergency response capability to one vehicle and aside from the Director’s vehicle, only one vehicle (EPA 15) has been issued a 24-hour pass to meet such responsibilities.

“Additionally, we have implemented an internal policy to monitor vehicle usage by tracking mileage used on each vehicle on a weekly basis. This will develop a baseline for each vehicle in order to determine average mileage usage on a weekly and monthly basis,” Pato stated.

The Director said that AS-EPA has recently purchased two Ford Fusion Hybrid vehicles to solidify their commitment to reducing our dependency on fossil fuel and minimizing our overall fuel consumption, as well as demonstrating commitment to cost containment measures.

The newly acquired vehicles are rated at 47 MPG (Miles Per Gallon), and are the first of many hybrid vehicles that AS-EPA will be transitioning into in the upcoming years. “AS-EPA and US EPA’s overall plan is to replace our existing vehicle fleet with hybrid vehicles in the next 5 to 10 years and this initiative will start with our remaining vehicle fleet that is more than ten years old.”

GREEN BUILDING — NET ZERO

Of their new state of the art Green Building, Pato said that “their total liability to ASPA for power since moving into the building is approximately $567 and this… is a significant reduction of more than 1200% on average, resulting in a substantial cost savings of nearly $7000 over the past six months.”

He also noted that EPA has conducted occupancy awareness training with the staff to be more energy efficient and to change occupancy behavior, which consisted of turning off lights, unplugging appliances and devices, turning off AC if they are to leave the office for an extended period of time, or before close of business every day.

“Although these trainings seem minor, it has been proven in many studies conducted by the Green Building Council, that these minor occupancy behaviors can significantly reduce our electrical usage and our monthly bill,” the director commented.

“Our ultimate goal is to achieve NET ZERO, which is the ultimate designation for any green building. NET ZERO means that the building produces more energy through renewable power generation resulting in zero dependency on fossil fuel, and generates zero carbon emission annually.”

GREEN TEAM

The Director also pointed out in the report that EPA has established a Green Team to spearhead all of ASG’s green building initiatives, which consist of enforcing occupancy rules, having a recycling program (plastic, paper, aluminum cans, and bottles), paperless system, training, and e-filing system and this team will work closely with the Energy Marshall (Alu Fa’amasino who’s also ASG’s vehicle marshal) who is tasked to monitor ASG’s energy load.

MILESTONE

The director highlighted EPA’s significant accomplishment and milestone as it is the only USEPA certified laboratory in American Samoa and "during the recertification, four of our lab analysts were certified in the process."

Additionally, AS-EPA participated in a humanitarian mission to conduct lab training and certification of islands in the Freely Associated States (FAS).

FEDERAL FUNDING

In a period of federal cuts, AS-EPA worked collaboratively with USEPA to secure and lock in USEPA funding for ASPA’s infrastructure improvement projects.

(Samoa News should point out the AS-EPA is 100% federally funded__, and its director is governor-appointed and does not have to go through Fono approval.)

Pato wrote that AS-EPA is proud to report that USEPA funding for the following ASPA projects have been secured: East Side Village (ESV) Wastewater Collection System Project, USEPA Funding $22,660,000; Utulei and Fogagogo Wastewater Treatment Plants Improvement Project, USEPA Funding $14,297,400; and the Malaimi Valley & Fagaima Wastewater Collection System Extension Project, USEPA Funding $2,284,375.

Other funded projects include:

Upgrades to Well Head Water Disinfection Facilities Project: USEPA Funding $616,875

Drinking Water Recovery Program (Leak Detection) Project: USEPA Funding $482,999

Malaeimi Valley Wells Manifolding Project: USEPA Funding $1,719,994

Fagaima and Tafuna Wells Manifolding Project: USEPA Funding $2,799,993

Afono Wellfield Water Transfer Project: USEPA Funding $1,925,884

Well Abandonment and Rehabilitation Project: USEPA Funding $235,644

Significant Water Loss Distribution System Project: USEPA Funding $2,893,750

Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel (ULSD) Upgrade Project: USEPA Funding  $69,611