Lau Lau Eco-Tourism Nature Trail
The current owner of the site is the Department of Public Lands (DPL). The Mayor of Saipan has proposed to develop the site for recreational activities (eco-tourism nature trail), which is approximately 261 acres. The subject site was used during the Japanese occupation (1914-1944) for the cultivation of sugarcane. As part of the sugarcane operation, a railroad track ran through the site which supports the transportation of sugarcane by train throughout the island. As a result of the large sugarcane operation on Saipan, there is reason to believe that pesticides were used for the protection of this valuable commercial crop.
Saipan was a main battle ground during WWII which involved the firing of heavy artillery from military ships and planes all throughout the island. The island is littered with unexploded ordnance; past discoveries and removals of these UXOs are documented. This site borders with the former Kagman Airfield which had bomb bunkers or revetments for ordnance storage. A large canon gun is found within the site that was probably used during WWII. All these evidence suggest the possibility that UXOs may be present at the site. DEQ SAR branch had completed and submitted EPA Eligibility Determination Checklist on July 28, 2013 and was approved by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on August 16, 2013 as a Brownfields site; awaiting Request for Proposal announcement for Phase I ESA.
Executive Summary (Phase I ESA Report)
CNMI BECQ retained Allied Pacific Environmental Consulting (APEC) to conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of Tract 42-1 Public Lands plots Chalan Lau Lau, Saipan, CNMI. This investigation was conducted in general accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process, Standard E 1527-05. Work carried out during the ESA included reconnaissance of the subject and adjoining properties, interviews, and review of historical records and regulatory databases in an effort to identify evidence of the environmental conditions that may impact the property.
The 261-acre site, Tract 41-2 Public Lands plot Chalan Lau Lau is arranged in an irregularly shaped property located on rugged terrain overlooking Lau Lau Bay, just west of the Kagman Peninsula Saipan, CNMI. The property is approximately 99% undeveloped and vegetated. Access to the property is by an unpaved road that follows along a former narrow gauge railroad dating back to the Japanese Period (before WWII).
The adjacent lots to the east and north are mostly undeveloped, with the CNMI Department of Corrections Juvenile Facility Kagman, located approximately 0.24 miles east from the property line. Adjacent to this facility is a large water tank, owned and operated by CUC. To the west of the property are private residences.One cluster of eight (8) residences is located towards the southwest corner of the property and another cluster of five (5) residences bordering the northwest portion of the site. The subject property is currently owned by the CNMI Department of Public Lands (DPL).
Category: Brownfields
Coordinates: N- 15° 10' 0.701"; E- 145° 45' 18.757"
Island: Saipan
Village: Lau Lau
Response Status: Approved on July 28, 2013; Phase I ESA Completed on Jul. 2014
Land Use Restrictions: Rural
Institutional Control: None
Responsible Party: Unknown
Enforcement Authority: Non-Enforcement Project
Project Lead: Division of Environmental Quality
Property Status: Public Land
Date Entered into Public Record: August 19, 2013
Coordinates: N- 15° 10' 0.701"; E- 145° 45' 18.757"
Island: Saipan
Village: Lau Lau
Response Status: Approved on July 28, 2013; Phase I ESA Completed on Jul. 2014
Land Use Restrictions: Rural
Institutional Control: None
Responsible Party: Unknown
Enforcement Authority: Non-Enforcement Project
Project Lead: Division of Environmental Quality
Property Status: Public Land
Date Entered into Public Record: August 19, 2013