Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ASG’s Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM) is now on a 12-month probation period after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lifted draw down restrictions, while setting conditions for the local Homeland Security Department (ASDHS) in order for the restrictions to be permanently lifted.

As previously reported by Samoa News, it was last month that FEMA Region 9 Regional Administrator, Robert J. Fenton Jr. informed Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga that FEMA has removed the restrictive drawdown status from ODAPM and the federal agency hopes to provide the same opportunity in the near future to ASDHS.

The official notification letter dated May 19 from Fenton to Lemanu, has since been made public, and it states in part that, that after reviewing American Samoa’s recent financial audit and results of enhanced financial monitoring, Region 9 is removing restrictive drawdown status for ODAPM and will remove draw down restrictions for ASDHS once certain conditions are met.

ODAPM

According to Fenton, the effective date of removal of the restrictions drawn on grants — Public Assistance and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program — administered by ODAPM is May 19 (the date of the letter), “for a 12-month probationary period”.

During the probationary period, ODAPM must:

• participate in monthly technical calls with staff from FEMA Region 9; and

• timely cooperate, as requested, with FEMA as it conducts periodic random sampling of Public Assistance grant expenditures through the “Validate as You Go (or VAYGO) testing process in accordance with federal guidelines”.

ASDHS

Fenton explained that before the restrictive drawdown status of grants administered by ASDHS can be removed, ASDHS must:

• 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.

“Once FEMA confirms in writing that these requirements are met, FEMA will remove the restrictive drawdown status... for a 12-month probationary period,” Fenton explained. And during the probation period, ASDHS must continue to participate in the bi-weekly technical assistance calls 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.

PERMANENT REMOVAL

“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 VAYGO testing,” said Fenton.

In conclusion, Fenton informed the governor that, ASDHS and ODAPM “have made significant progress in improving the grants management operations, and FEMA recognizes and commends these efforts. We look forward to continuing to work with you and your teams.”