TITLE 2: NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 1: MARITIME AND COASTAL RESOURCES
§ 1311. Statement of Purpose and Policy. (a) The people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are dependent upon the resources of the sea for their economic, social, and political survival and growth. (b) Foreign interests post a threat to the people of the Commonwealth by their insistence in dumping nuclear and chemical wastes in the sea which will not only diminish the availability of resources for the people of the Commonwealth, but also endanger their very lives. (c) The purpose of this chapter is to implement the intent of 2 CMC §§ 1114(b)(3) and 1124 of the Marine Sovereignty Act of 1980 [2 CMC § 1101 et seq.] and to ban the dumping of nuclear and chemical wastes in the ocean and seabed surrounding the Commonwealth. (d) This chapter is intended to maintain a clean and healthy environment for present and future generations in the Commonwealth, to protect the health and safety of residents and visitors alike from the dangers of accidents involving the transport, storage, or siting of radioactive materials, nuclear reactors or weapons within the Commonwealth, and to protect the general health, safety, comfort, and welfare of Commonwealth residents from the misuse of nuclear energy. (e) This chapter is also intended to permanently ban from the Commonwealth radioactive materials used in weapons, ships, submarines, and other machines, except medical equipment, or for limited use in certain reactors or power plants as provided by 2 CMC § 1326 unless the possession or use of the radioactive materials is related to United States foreign affairs and defense responsibilities affecting the Northern Mariana Islands, as provided in Covenant § 104 and in 2 CMC § 1324. (f) Foreign interests pose a threat to the people of the Commonwealth by their proliferation of nuclear weapons, and nuclear-powered ships, submarines, power plants, reactors, and other radioactive materials. The radioactive materials may be transported in the air and waters surrounding or affecting the Commonwealth. A transportation accident or other mishap could easily threaten the marine resources, and the health, safety, and lives of the people of the Commonwealth. Further, the nuclear wastes generated by the operations and replacement of nuclear weapons and nuclear-powered ships, submarines, reactors, and power plants, increasingly threaten the resources and survival of the people of the Commonwealth. Source: PL 3-42, § 2; amended by PL 4-45, § 2; (e) amended by PL 17-10 § 3 (July 28, 2010), modified. Commission Comment: The Commission inserted proper code section references pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(c). For more information regarding PL 1710, see comment to 2 CMC § 1326.