GIFF JOHNSON
Pacific International Inc. is proposing a major land reclamation project as part of developing a wide-range of on-shore facilities and services to support fishing vessels in Majuro.
The plan was outlined by PII Manager Bobby Muller at a public hearing sponsored by the RMI EPA Monday held at Marshall Islands Resort’s Lomalo Room. PII is currently working through the permit process with EPA to gain approval for creating over six acres of land on the ocean side reef adjacent to its lagoon side dock property past the bridge.
The dock expansion and ocean side development plan would be used to support a range of fisheries related needs from fuel to freezer storage for tuna that can be offloaded and transported by container to off-shore canneries.
Muller said the benefits of the development are numerous, including relieving congestion at Delap Dock, offering a shoreside tuna off-loading and storage location that will fuel spinoff opportunities and create jobs.
EPA General Manager Moriana Phillips delivered a summary of the marine survey that was conducted by EPA’s coastal advisor marine biologist Karl Fellenius. The ocean side reef flat where the project is proposed for “is covered in algae and dead from a coral reef perspective,” said Phillips.
A few comments followed:
• Martin Romain, who directs the Marshall Islands Conservation Society, suggested the possibility of relocating some of the coral in one of the existing quarry pits because of their resilience to coral bleaching.
• Attorney John Masek, who represents Majuro Iroijlaplap Lein Zedkeia, said his client “has not consented to the project irrespective of its merits.”
• EPA board member Reginald White said the EPA’s role with the public hearing and permit approval process is to “facilitate discussions, and take on everyone’s concerns including landowners.”
The deadline for the public to submit additional comments in writing to EPA is February 8.
Read more about this in the February 2, 2018 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.