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07/11/2025 - The CNMI Office of Planning and Development said plans are in the works to turn Puntan Diablo dumpsite on Tinian into an exempt landfill.
“Currently, environmental assessments and surveys of the project site are ongoing. As of July 8, 2025, OPD and the project team have received a draft conceptual design of the Tinian Small Community Exempt Landfill, which is being reviewed,” according to the CNMI's main government agency for guiding the future development.
An exempt landfill is a type of landfill that is granted an exemption from certain regulations, often due to its small size, limited waste intake, or specific geographical location. These exemptions can vary by jurisdiction and may involve reduced regulatory oversight or different operating standards.
OPD said key tasks under Phase 1 of this endeavor include project site assessment and the creation of a preliminary Tinian SCEL design concept and budget estimates for the operation and maintenance of the future Tinian SCEL.
Phase 2, or the final phase, includes detailed design drawings of the Tinian SCEL and the creation of technical specifications of the facility, detailed cost estimates, and operations plans.
“This phase has been contracted but has not yet been implemented, since the execution of Phase 2 is contingent on the CNMI’s approval of the design concept and budget estimates that are to be submitted to the CNMI as part of Phase 1,” said OPD.
Meanwhile, Phase 3, or construction and operation, involves the selection of a contractor, which OPD said has not yet been selected for this phase.
“At this time, the plan is to keep a portion of the dump site operational while the rest would be closed off as permitting and construction start. Eventually, the goal is to make all of Puntan Diablo a permitted, compliant SCEL. Once completed, the Puntan Diablo SCEL is expected to have a lifespan of at least 20 years based on existing volume and projected generation rates. Other sites for future landfills are being explored,” said OPD.
Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan said the Tinian dumpsite in Puntan Diablo has been part of the municipality’s discussions with the CNMI government and the U.S. Department of Defense as far as a replacement for the illegal landfill is concerned.
“We have the governor, and DPL has addressed and met with DOD. It is within the legal counsel of the CNMI AG's office and the legal staff for Joint Region Marianas. I believe we are at the very end of transferring that partial land within the military-leased area.”
He said it’s his understanding that an area within the military-leased area will be declared as excess land and transferred to the Department of Public Lands.
“And then from there, Public Land will transfer it over to the Department of Public Works, where we will start engaging on where to get the funding for the new landfill. But at the same time, the military will do the environmental assessment for that particular property before they turn it over to the CNMI. Not close, not in the immediate future, but once we identify the funding, they will have to close [Puntan Diablo] down."
Report by Mark Rabago
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