Hazard mitigation for Fagaima drainage still under review

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Hazard Mitigation application for the Fagaima drainage and road improvement project is still under review with the Environmental Historic Preservation (EHP) of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

This is according to Lima Fiatoa, the State Hazard Mitigation Officer with the ASG Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management (ODAPM), responding to an updated status request on the project from Rep. Larry S. Sanitoa whom, along with his Tualauta colleague Rep. Sam Meleisea was prepared to meet on Wednesday this week with Public Works director, on various urgent road and drainage projects pending throughout Tualauta county.

Per his conference call with FEMA last week Friday, Fiatoa informed Sanitoa on Tuesday this week that the contractor FEMA hired to conduct EHP review, CD Smith is working with an official with DPW to get the “AutoCAD files”.

“In addition, CD Smith is trying to work out how they will satisfy their site visit requirements with our borders closed,” Fiatoa explained.  “FEMA is looking for alternative methods to conduct a site visit like a virtual site visit or hiring someone local to conduct the site visit.”

“We are working closely with FEMA to address all of their questions/concerns and look forward to concluding the EHP review process,” said Fiatoa.

The Hazard Mitigation application was first submitted early last year but with the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues on the mainland, the review has been delayed.