Lawmakers hear proposal to quarry Lot 5412 to fund Chamorro Land Trust housing projects

The Committee on Land, Environment, Housing, Agriculture, Parks, and Infrastructure held a public hearing July 1 on Bill 7‑38 COR, introduced by Senator Joe S. Augustine, authorizing the Chamorro Land Trust Commission (CLTC) to solicit competitive bids for mass grading and mineral extraction on a portion of Lot 5412 (Manila/Fadien) to produce limestone aggregate for construction and to use proceeds to develop homestead lots.

Sponsor Joe S. Augustine and witnesses from the construction and land‑use sectors described the proposal as a way to convert an inaccessible, underdeveloped parcel into pad‑ready homestead lots while supplying a construction industry that they said needs large volumes of quality limestone. "Prudent planned extraction of aggregate on this lot can result in a landform that can accommodate hundreds of homestead lots," Augustine said, and he and witnesses cited earlier estimates that extraction could generate multi‑million‑dollar revenues to fund surveys, infrastructure and lot preparation.

Panel testimony: - David Herrera…