Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — To assist American Samoa with federal environmental requirements and permitting and to also prevent delays in moving projects forward, Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga has recommended the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) establish a local office or a representative to assist with such pressing matters.

Lemanu’s recommendation was outlined in his written testimony last week before the U.S Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the state of U.S territories.

The governor noted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and permitting pertaining to American Samoa. He recommended a solution, saying that it would go a long way in delivering a more effective partnership with NEPA.

For all US Department of the Interior (USDOI) federal awards, the governor explained that there is a designated point of contact (POC) handling the NEPA process for all USDOI projects.

In addition to USDOI, other federal funding agencies have selected environmental POCs that provide assistance on the federal environmental review and approval process.

“However, not all federal agencies provide an environmental POC,” he said and hopes that the federal government would consider a request to establish a local USACE Army office or representative to assist with this matter.

“Providing training or technical assistance will also benefit the Territory by ensuring ASG is compliant with the NEPA process,” he said.

Lemanu points out that a local Army Corps office could also assist with environmental permits that present challenges for strict project timelines.

“Some federal agencies recommend that we seek permits for similar projects that may have been completed previous years,” the governor said. 

“As a small island, many project sites will share the same coordinates or location therefore it would be prudent for environmental permits for project sites that have been approved the previous year, receive an expedited review and approval,” he explained.

During a local Senate Public Works Committee hearing late last month with Army Corps officials from the Honolulu District, it was suggested by at least two senators for the federal agency to have a presence in the territory as many of the projects — such as seawalls and roads — involve the Army Corps.

Army Corps Honolulu District Commander, Lt. Col. Christopher R. Pevey, told the committee that the governor during an earlier meeting in Honolulu asked to “put a regulatory person in American Samoa.”

From his observation following a site visit on island, Pevey said that from “what I’ve seen is maybe, expertise in environmental” for American Samoa, but he quickly noted that this is a budgetary issue, hiring personnel, which is controlled by Army Corps headquarters in Washington D.C.

He believes in an “environmental expertise” to help through some of the federal regulatory process for regulatory and permitting process.

The hearing was prompted by senators’ concerns over stop orders issued by USACE for seawall projects and for a stream project.

As previously reported by Samoa News, the USACE issued “Notice of Violation” against ASG over unauthorized activities in the Tula shoreline area, and alleged activities performed by Paramount Builders Inc. at Amaile Stream in Nu’uuli — both projects are without a federal permit.

Pevey told the committee that he doesn’t have a time frame of when the stop-order for seawall projects will be lifted but promised to get back with a reply. (See Samoa News edition Jan. 27 for details from that hearing.)

A major concern raised by senators was that some projects are half-way through — at 40% or 50% — and now face a set-back with a stop order issued by USACE. Therefore, they believe that a local USACE representative would alleviate such last minute issues and prevent the issuance of stop orders.