Fofo rep fears wind farm would bring grave harm to fragile ecosystems

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Fofo Representative Andra Samoa is raising concerns over what she characterizes as “the significant adverse impact to the environment and to our fragile ecosystem” that the recently announced ASPA wind farm would cause.

She shared her thoughts as a former ASPA CEO who had worked there for 16 years, in a press release issued over the weekend.

“I totally understand the value of renewable energy and our need to remove our dependence from fossil fuel in order to reduce the electric rate and contribute to a clean environment,” Samoa said.

She recalled that when ASPA launched the first PV solar panel at the airport in 2011, that same year in a meeting with former Governor Togiola Tulafono and ASPA engineers the then-governor advised ASPA not to consider the land called Manunu for any future renewable energy projects because boundaries with villages have not been clearly delineated and registered.

“I am not going to focus on land issues,” she wrote in her press statement, “other than to say that back in April 17, 1900, four Leone chiefs signed the Deed of Cession understanding that the United States will promote the preservation of the rights and property, respect and protect the rights of all people to their lands and other property and maintain the peace of the people and the advancement of civilization.

“It is this peace that my grandfather with many other chiefs maintained between villages that lay claim to the land called Manunu. My grandmother (Luisa Galeai Salavea) and Grand Aunt (Kolone Leoso) with many of her students would gather all their siapo preparation of plants and herbs from Manunu area.”

Rep. Samoa said she chooses instead to focus on what she believes is the significant adverse impact to the environment and to a fragile ecosystem that the ASPA wind farm would cause, saying, “I do not support the excavation and clearing for a MET Tower in addition to the plan of installing 10 Wind Turbines on the Manunu land. The law (Title 24, ASCA) and the Administrative Guide (Title 26, ASAC) has totally been disregarded and violated by the PNRS,” which is the Project Notification Review System that reviews all land-use projects for adverse impacts on the environment.

“I would advise the PNRS to reconsider their review, understanding, criteria and revoke the permit issued with conditions to ASPA. The goals and objectives of the American Samoa Coastal Management Program (ASCMP) Act clearly [have] been undermined. This is not a conceptual stage that ASPA is undertaking. All the requirements in the ASCMP must be presented before a permit is issued with conditions,” she said.

She explained there are other ways to approach how the land is used to mitigate high energy prices without the destruction of rainforests. “We can certainly use the rainforest to our benefit including looking into carbon credit programs of the federal agencies so that our villages can get funds and some of these funds can assist ASPA in reducing the electric rate. 

“Rainforests help stabilize the world's climate by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Scientists have shown that excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from human activities is contributing to climate change. Therefore, living rainforests have an important role in mitigating climate change. The rainforest in American Samoa is a gold mine and let's not destroy it.”

The Fofo representative made her appeal very personal saying, “I am a product of this land area called Manunu. It is a pristine rainforest and was cultivated thousands of years ago by the village of Leone and also other villages and families. 

“Working hard for many years with our village council to restore our Leone Coastal Wetland will be the same effort that I with others, will dedicate to protect Manunu. I bring this sense of peace and security to continue the preservation of this pristine land of Manunu for future generations.

“Manunu is the environmental rainforest that has provided us with life. My grandfather was a peacemaker and hope we continue this legacy of peace within villages, especially not disturbing the peace and prosperity that the rainforest provides for our people.

“I am at peace knowing that my ancestors left this land called Manunu for my generation and we in turn pass to our children and grandchildren.”

BACKGROUND

In 2013 Dept. of Marine Wildlife & Resources (DMWR) coordinated the restoration of 18.3 acres of coastal wetland habitat to address the degradation and loss of coastal wetland and coral reef in the Leone village, in particular the damage resulting from the 2009 Earthquake-Tsunami event.

Leone has three streams originating from Manunu — Aualii, Leafu and Fuafua via Malaeloa. Other villages in the Western District Leone with Pago Pago and Nuuuli are considered Special Management Areas (SMA) and with its watershed filled with pristine ecosystems, recharge aquifers, mangrove, wetland, beach, undisturbed native vegetation and critical habitat, flora, fauna, birds, snail, fish, archaeological sites, etc.

(Source: Press release issued by Fofo Representative Andra Samoa)