Public Pressure to Distribute Chamorro Land Trust Properties and its Environmental Implications Senator Tom Ada Chairman Committee on Lands, Infrastructure, Transportation, Procurement, Border Protection and Veterans’ Affairs 33 rd Guam Legislature
Overview Chamorro Land Trust Program Environmental Concerns Maintaining a balance between Political vs. Technical Rationality
Chamorro Land Trust Program Established in 1975 Mirror image of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 Application intake started in 1995 11,000 applications on file; only 2,500 processed, to date. Up to 1-acre for residential use.
Chamorro Land Trust (CLT) Land Inventory 5,400 acres available for distribution for residential and agricultural use. Majority of properties over Northern Guam Aquifer (NGA).
CLTC properties
CLTC and Water Protection Zone
Areas to Watch Closely Primary Residential Tract LaJuna Pt. – coral extrctn, 400 acres
Water Production Wells Approx. 122 wells
Land Distribution – Limitations Lack of funds has hampered: -- land survey; a prerequisite, -- infrastructure development, no access roads, no water, no power, no sewer in most tracts.
Land Distribution – Limitations C ommercial leasing authority to generate revenue for infrastructure. political will to bring CLT program to fruition.
Protection of NGA a Major Concern Construction of wastewater infrastructure essential for protection of NGA.
Prevalence of GWA Customers Not Connected to Sewer Lines.
Increasing The Threat To The NGA Allowing more residential homes to be built without sewer connection. .
Original Parcels
Subdivided Once
Subdivided Twice
Notwithstanding… Do What Is Politically Rational. Distribute Chamorro Land Trust properties to appease voters. Construction of sewer infrastructure “to follow”.
Doing What Is Technically Rational. Infrastructure development in Chamorro Land Trust tracts Implement aggressive monitoring programs. Provide adequate funding to support monitoring programs. Strengthen public policy
Si Yu’us Ma’ase’
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