Tafuna AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency (AS-EPA) hosted an intensive six-hour training last Friday led by Dr. Julie Song, Senior Permit Specialist from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9. The session brought together key regulatory and industry partners, including representatives from the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA), StarKist Samoa, and AS-EPA staff.

The training focused on federal permits issued by Region 9 for discharges into waters of the United States, permits currently held by both ASPA and StarKist for their operations in the Territory. Participants received in-depth guidance on several core Clean Water Act components, including:

● Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification
● Mixing Zones and Reasonable Potential Analyses
● Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
● Industrial Effluent Limitation Guidelines

While comprehensive, the six-hour session highlighted the extensive scope of the Clean Water Act and the continued need for ongoing training to ensure full compliance and prevent violations. The event provided a valuable opportunity for local agencies to learn directly from federal experts and strengthen regulatory understanding across the Territory.

In addition to the training, two members of the USEPA Region 9 team conducted inspections of ASPA’s wastewater facilities, StarKist Samoa, and the Shipyard during their four-day visit.

These inspections support continued collaboration between federal and territorial agencies to protect water quality and uphold environmental standards.