Interior Announces $1.4 Million for American Samoa, Guam, and Enewetak in Marshall Islands

WASHINGTON – Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs this week announced $1,406,051 in fiscal year 2018 grants for American Samoa, Guam, and Enewetak Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

“Secretary Zinke and I are pleased provide funds that bolster basic and much-needed services at hospitals and utilities for people in Guam, American Samoa, and Enewetak as we do across all the U.S. Insular Areas,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech.

The projects listed below were funded through the Technical Assistance and Maintenance Assistance Programs in the Office of Insular Affairs:

• American Samoa Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center – $493,581 to provide training in the End Stage Renal Dialysis (ESRD) Unit for career service employees and nurses leading to Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technicians and ESRD Nurses.  In 1980, the ESRD had only two dialysis chairs and two patients.  As of the first quarter of 2018, they now serve 170 patients and have 32 chairs, with three shifts every day.

• Guam Waterworks Authority - $500,000 to assess and evaluate needs for upgrading the Enterprise Resource Planning system. Funding will support the procurement and contracting of an experienced information technology firm to perform a full assessment and provide recommendations for all business functions and processes that should be included and integrated into a new system suitable for water and wastewater utility operations.

• American Samoa Power Authority - $96,470 to fund a Professional Training and Apprenticeship Program.  The program will help meet critical needs and provide training for nearly 25 local staff as well drillers, water systems operators, electricians/engineers for photovoltaic installation, and licensed professional engineers.

• Enewetak Health Care Clinic - $140,000 to renovate the 177 4-Atoll Health Care Program Clinic in Enewetak.  The clinic has survived several typhoons and has only had minor cosmetic repairs since first built 30 years ago. Funds will be used to repair the roof, the electrical wiring system, and plumbing. Enewetak is one of four nuclear-affected atolls in the Marshall Islands impacted by the nuclear weapons testing program conducted between 1946 and 1958.

Funds for these grants were made available through the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs’ Technical Assistance and Maintenance Assistance Programs. Applications are submitted from October through May 1st each year. Funds are awarded once OIA receives appropriations from the U.S. Congress until they are exhausted.

The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and the Office of Insular Affairs carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees Federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. OIA supports the Secretary's mission of Fulfilling Trust and Insular Responsibilities through balancing efforts and limited resources towards stronger economic and health capacities, and fiscal accountability in the U.S. insular areas.

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