Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has removed restrictive drawdown status from the local Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS), as of July 7 the agency is placed on a probationary period of twelve months.

FEMA Region IX acting director for Grants Management Division, Caitlin Gliniecki, had informed Homeland Security director Samana Semo Ve’ave’a of the federal agency’s latest action, according to a news release last Friday from the Governor’s Office.

Gliniecki mentioned that five issues were identified in ASDHS’s previous corrective action plan (CAP) of November 3, 2021 that remained unresolved and open. And as of July 7, those issues have been resolved and closed.

“The resolution of these areas of noncompliance has satisfied FEMA’s remaining requirement to remove the restricted draw status for a probationary period of twelve months with continued participation in bi-weekly technical assistance calls with FEMA Region IX Grants Management Division,” Gliniecki tells Samana.

Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, speaking on behalf of Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, commended Samana and his staff for their diligence and efforts in achieving this goal.

“We also thank FEMA for their assistance and service to our people; we look forward to continuing our partnership to strengthen the American Samoa Government’s accountability and management system,” Talauega is quoted in the news release.

As previously reported by Samoa News, FEMA Region 9 Regional Administrator, Robert J. Fenton Jr. had informed Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga that as of May 19, FEMA had removed the restrictive drawdown status for the ASG’s Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM) and placed it on a 12-month probation period.

The governor was also informed that FEMA was prepared to do the same for ASDHS, after meeting two conditions: close all open areas of noncompliance from its 2021 enhanced financial monitoring desk review; and continue to participate in the current bi-weekly technical assistance calls held with FEMA Region 9 staff.

FEMA grants administered by ASDHS — Emergency Management Performance Grants, the Homeland Security Grant Program, and the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, would be affected, according to Fenton’s letter.

According to Fenton, permanent removal of restrictive drawdown status will be evaluated pending the results of monitoring site visits to ODAPM and ASDHS in 2023 and satisfactory resolution of all “Validate as You Go (or VAYGO)” testing.