[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6568119,"mediaKeyId","3207716-d55e489a7398f8b8c2d5deee828afb63","parentId",3207716,"title","Acting public lands secretary urges larger, multi-year fund for land-use plan update","audioSeconds",150,"startMs",539000,"endMs",689000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207716-d55e489a7398f8b8c2d5deee828afb63&start=539&end=689","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207716-d55e489a7398f8b8c2d5deee828afb63/thumbnail_539000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568119/Acting-public-lands-secretary-urges-larger-multi-year-fund-for-land-use-plan-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568119-c222caede1ff77f5147be8a93a45e065/orig.mp4?Expires=1770736753&Signature=OWqhQx0Sy4e2dygGPcYX89qeHePhcjmUoz9hFK7VkYzgunTHSTG9WN-Sk~45dUwMfoHe0QfR-beCEvis9Q-mT~I2w17~rCq~WpaxzHkwAH1cQf-nUzdFG7P8mbVT88ScAB6teDO0vhVAkU21Qq8mvtTSr7NvcyLYKQ49p-NVzlLF8n5UUWBdnbkI7xQIgc8dcy3oB70WGUSL4ZJEfRg4zFUf5nfbaSGvZ1ZQHJ6gaeyjKWyWmr3mAw~VVQZrWcH0L292ni7Xh6QW0Kie-Gftzk26r2qaQ7uZ5AX9oU0m8fzB2BIlN3V83zI5G~iGVnoVyDpzDe~4D74zg8SuPHX1VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate - Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature","date","2025-05-07T01:41:52.85Z","article","Sixtu Kaipari Somer, acting secretary of the Department of Public Lands, told the Senate spending committee he supports Senate Bill 24-1212 but urged changes to how the bill funds an update to the commonwealth land use plan.

Somer said the department continues to support comments previously submitted by former Secretary Teresita Santos and recommended an increase in the bill’s set-aside for the land-use plan from $200,000 to $275,000. \"The land use plan was created with about $800,000. To try and update the land use plan would require us to hire consultants ... and will require a lot more,\" Somer said, explaining why he views $200,000 as insufficient.

Somer recommended drafting language that would authorize Finance to hold the appropriation in a fund so the Department of Public Lands could incrementally add money year to year and run an RFP to determine actual cost. He said the department wants the flexibility to accumulate funds rather than be forced to spend or transmit a single-year appropriation before a full procurement and cost estimate are completed. \"If we put $200,000 in a budget, we have to spend it or transmit it. So that's all I ask,\" Somer said.

Committee members acknowledged the recommendation and indicated they would note it for potential amendment when the bill is taken up. No committee vote on Senate Bill 24-1212 occurred during the session; the chair later said several bills on the agenda would be tabled for future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","250507 24th NMCL Sen RED&W 9:00 a.m.","oneSentenceSummary","Acting Secretary Sixtu Kaipari Somer of the Department of Public Lands told the committee he supports Senate Bill 24-1212 but recommended increasing the proposed $200,000 set-aside to $275,000 and allowing the department to hold and augment those funds over multiple years to complete a land use plan update.","taxTitle","Senate, Northern Mariana Legislative Sessions, Northern Mariana Islands","taxId",20282,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6568124,"Senate committee debate over bill to suspend zoning code ends with plan to continue talks",3858,4763000,8621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207716-d55e489a7398f8b8c2d5deee828afb63&start=4763&end=8621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207716-d55e489a7398f8b8c2d5deee828afb63/thumbnail_4763000.jpg","/articles/6568124/Senate-committee-debate-over-bill-to-suspend-zoning-code-ends-with-plan-to-continue-talks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568124-b61ca0353bc27d43abfb61b9749efcc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770736490&Signature=oLvEFeKb3uTGPE~TieZ8HS90VBJawM3WJoADt~OYpV-GoIh~G504hDw45R0c8FykyFGLbq0rN6-e5G8Wmu3bfYyZT6IRGaOMMGhd4W9~L8AaLcZY8c4yBb0Gfo~plSEfBz5WRbZdPWtX8FcLeb53hx4TvM8IwQZ7s4Y~lulMM889PVka8Afzg-Zzbwv5lvtHYzusm163oSHbS8yDCaUtgYvcnlTvOaaLdph5fkMzsOK9d9QRIYHh00XFUIuqfpP-6JP5k3tea1m4XGjlkI3S28l2j~P7HkYmpBx4AERa5GRBWfuGWM1b8YgXbHYPCC6NOM3rFH1LLjpBXtgYK~6B4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 24-23, a proposal to suspend administration and implementation of the Commonwealth zoning code and related site and zoning law for five years, drew extended testimony from business owners, zoning officials and senators but was not adopted. The committee agreed to further review the measure and requested an additional meeting with zoning and other stakeholders.

The bill’s author, Senator Manny Castro, said the intent was not to abolish zoning but to \"suspend it and reassess\" because of inconsistencies and delays he and some constituents have experienced. \"The bill is not to abolish zoning. We do recognize the value of having zoning in place,\" Castro said, adding that the goal is to \"look at programmatic issues\" and simplify processes for applicants.

Business and zoning stakeholders urged different remedies. Alex Sablan and business-owner Steve Jiang told the committee that zoning is necessary but needs modernization and simplification; Jiang said abolishing zoning would invite \"chaos, inconsistency, [and] community disputes.\" Zoning Administrator Theresa Gomorrah (also identified in the transcript as the agency administrator) urged the committee to disapprove the bill, saying it lacked justification for a suspension and noting the agency already is working on process improvements.

Board members and some senators warned the bill’s suspension provisions could be disruptive. Chairman Topschneider and other board supporters said suspending the code for five years and dissolving the board — language that appears in the draft bill — would remove land-use controls and risk inconsistent development. \"If you suspend the zoning law for 5 years ... those poker arcades are gonna go back to where the money might be in the villages,\" one board member said during the hearing, urging caution about unintended consequences.

Senators pressed zoning staff on operational metrics and gaps. Administrator Gomorrah said the office issues roughly 300–400 permits and clearances per month and uses a database to track performance; she also told senators staffing constraints remain a primary obstacle. Gomorrah estimated about 50% of staff time is diverted to tasks outside permitting and enforcement. Board members said they are discussing turnaround times and customer outreach in board meetings and that some recent outreach sessions produced low public turnout.

The committee chair, Senator Karina L. Macofner, closed the hearing by asking parties to continue discussions and directed staff to schedule follow-up sessions that will include DPW, zoning leadership and authors. \"If time is needed to make the improvements on the processes or maybe look at the regulations and see how we can better improve them, then we have to come together and work it out,\" she said. With no formal objections, the chair said the bill would be tabled for further review and stakeholders would be invited back for a focused meeting.

No committee vote on the bill was recorded in the transcript; senators and zoning officials requested additional engagement before the committee considers formal action.","Senators, zoning officials and business representatives debated Senate Bill 24-23, which would suspend parts of the Commonwealth zoning code and related laws for five years. The committee did not advance the bill and agreed to further meetings with zoning officials, the bill author and other stakeholders.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6568129,"Committee adopts bill to move recycling program to Department of Public Works",3118,1643000,4761000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207716-d55e489a7398f8b8c2d5deee828afb63&start=1643&end=4761","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207716-d55e489a7398f8b8c2d5deee828afb63/thumbnail_1643000.jpg","/articles/6568129/Committee-adopts-bill-to-move-recycling-program-to-Department-of-Public-Works","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568129-1c6606cc44e4d3f259bbf6cdfbf10d02/orig.mp4?Expires=1770736654&Signature=OjM2R01m6EoeVcpoZhk35jTRmiTkx95VMiYJp7eVyylA59y2cSkJm-wK26NGUXolj5M83ENvvp9U1cmoxuut9E3bycXtJYmElARdFH0owmPiNBfYTP9w-7Z8xhN2xolw94CR6CB6UHwQ0YoQ2~lsDBUGEcDBkPE0gFzal3cRE6GzwBXMkE7kSxdjfd5Rl2mQUmAGLz~z65fo1BePWnDTkWEkRDwFq-k~6K2Mu0RGFZ4ZnyiuaLsT4IX5~PejAXRHe4BaK-nlyV7pkSW50Q~WWjNfw9MnI1KtaIZoxaPFbukL71ZWi8RCG7EdZzxNueFef0WLaY38l5YSwBcbB2CDTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate spending committee on resources, economic development and workforce voted to adopt Senate Bill 24-08, which transfers functions of the Commonwealth Recycling Act of 1999 from the Division of Environmental Quality to the Department of Public Works and authorizes DPW to implement a recycling redemption program across Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Supporters told the committee the program has already shown results under recent grant-funded pilots. \"We saw volume of cans removed when we would normally see it through processing,\" Secretary Yewon said, adding the initial grants reduced visible aluminum and plastic in landfill loads and extended facility life. Secretary Yewon said the short, grant-funded pilot that began April 28 was successful and that her department plans rules and staff to expand the program if the bill becomes law.

The bill’s proponents and DPW staff described how the program has operated under grants and what they expect if the statute is transferred. Office of Grants Management provided about $50,000 for the current effort and DEQ contributed $30,000, Secretary Yewon said. DPW intends to promulgate regulations if the bill becomes law; she estimated at least 90 days would be required to publish rules. The department has identified staffing additions in its budget submission to support a broader recycling effort, including on Rota and Tinian.

Committee members asked for details about material handling and end markets. Secretary Yewon said aluminum cans are bid to regional smelters and shipyards; glass would be pulverized on-island into a sand-like material for reuse in paving and decorative uses; tires and bulky items would be shredded and potentially reserved for a planned pyrolysis pilot. \"We have a pulverizer that we grind down the glass and bring it down to almost sand like material, and we can reuse that for paving,\" she said. She said shipping tires off-island previously cost roughly $400,000 and that on-island processing can reduce those costs.

Officials provided program metrics and cost context. Secretary Yewon said the landfill contractor cost about $106,000 per month; tipping fees are $37.50 and contractor handling costs have been roughly $40–$60 per metric ton in recent years. DPW staff said combined actions—diversion of recyclables, compaction on outer islands and targeted reuse—should reduce landfill volumes and slow the need for new cell construction.

Senators who spoke in favor said the program would streamline services and convert an existing, but unimplemented, law into active operations. \"The whole concept of the recycling act is to streamline government services and reduce duplication of services, but at the same time, incentivize, reduce litter by incentivizing the process rather than penalizing,\" said Senator Manny Castro, who spoke in support and said the act was originally introduced decades ago but never implemented.

A motion to adopt Senate Bill 24-08 in its current form was offered and seconded on the committee floor; the committee chair called for ayes and the motion carried. The chair asked the legislative assistant to prepare a committee report for signature and scheduling on a future session calendar.

DPW officials asked the committee to consider timing and funding so the ongoing pilot does not lapse while regulations are promulgated. Secretary Yewon urged the public to continue collecting recyclables pending rulemaking: \"Please hold on to your cans, your plastic bottles, and also your glass bottles because the goal is to restart this as quickly as possible.\"","The Senate spending committee voted to adopt Senate Bill 24-08, which would transfer authority for the Commonwealth Recycling Act of 1999 from the Division of Environmental Quality to the Department of Public Works and authorize DPW to implement a recycling redemption program across all three islands.","actionData","errors"]

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Acting public lands secretary urges larger, multi-year fund for land-use plan update

Senate committee debate over bill to suspend zoning code ends with plan to continue talks

Committee adopts bill to move recycling program to Department of Public Works