TITLE 4: ECONOMIC RESOURCES
DIVISION 8: UTILITIES
§ 8161. Establishment of a Water Catchment Loan Revolving Fund Program. There is hereby established a Water Catchment Tank Loan Revolving Fund Program to be administered by the Commonwealth Development Authority, whose duties and responsibilities shall include but are not limited to: (a) Designing and developing the loan applications form; (b) Reviewing and approving such loan applications; and (c) Promulgating rules and regulations to effectively and efficiently implement the intent of this article. Source: PL 9-42, § 3 (§ 8161). Commission Comment: PL 9-42, the “Water Catchment Tank Loan Revolving Fund Program Act of 1995,” took effect June 20, 1995. PL 9-42, § 3 repealed and reenacted this article. According to PL 9-42, § 2: Section 2. Findings. The Legislature finds that the Division of Public Lands of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources has issued several thousand resident lots in Saipan, Tinian and Rota and that a substantial number of homeowners are still not connected to nor reached by the public water distribution lines. The Legislature also finds that a substantial number of homeowners who are connected to the public water distribution lines are still experiencing water problems resulting from pipe leaks, limited water supply and water pressure to reach residences at high level areas. Further, the Legislature finds that there are times when the water supply is interrupted because of the lack in power generation at the pump stations attributed to power outages and other inconveniences. Additionally, the Legislature finds that in order to provide the general public with water at their residences at all times, each and every household should be encourage[d] to install a water catchment tank at their property. According to the Secretary of Finance’s letter of 8/31/94 to the Legislative Assistant at CUC, relative to the $1 million appropriations for water catchment tank and power generator systems, the funds appropriated under the Act lapsed and reverted to the General Fund. Therefore, to meet the unmet need of the community, the Legislature believes that an affordable loan revolving fund program should be developed and implemented.