Ensuring that American Samoa advances its pursuit of clean air, water and land, the territory is getting $2.1 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), which also outlined priority projects to be funded with the federal grant.

USEPA regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest, Jared Blumenfeld congratulated the American Samoa’s Le Ofisa O Puipuiaga O le Si'osi'omaga (or ASEPA) “for its work benefiting the island residents and their resources.”

“[US]EPA’s funding enables American Samoa to advance their goals in the pursuit of clean air, water and land,” Blumenfeld said in a news release announcing the grant funding, which will go to support ASEPA, and include inspections, monitoring the safety of beaches and drinking water, permit writing, enforcement and other facets of their environmental protection programs.

USEPA outlined their priorities that include:                        

• Environmental outreach and education to American Samoa’s schools and communities, the “Keep American Samoa Beautiful Campaign”, and American Samoa’s Anti-Litter Program;

• Work in coordination with American Samoa Power Authority to help remove the existing boil water notice areas on Tutuila, and ensure potable drinking water for 100 percent of American Samoa residents;

• Protection of the Faga’alu Watershed, designated a priority watershed by the US Coral Reef Task Force, and its coastal waters and coral reefs, through the reduction of silt and contaminants into Faga’alu stream;

• Protection of human health with a reduction in leptospirosis through implementation of ASEPA’s Piggery Compliance Program;

• Protection of coastal waters, coral reefs and indigenous biota through water quality monitoring and beach monitoring protection. These monitoring efforts will help ensure American Samoa has clean beaches for swimming and fishing;

• "Brownfields" program development and site clean up;

• Pesticide management to educate farmers on proper application techniques, and eliminate illegal importation and use of unregistered/foreign pesticides;

• Inspections to help ensure safe underground and above ground fuel storage tanks;

• Emergency response, hazardous waste, and clean air program management.

According to the USEPA website, the Brownfields program involves real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties protects the environment, reduces blight, and takes development pressures off green spaces and working lands.

USEPA spokesman Dean Higuchi told Samoa News Friday that the ASEPA would be choosing the sites they will be considering for the Brownfields program.