This project will plan improvements for berths 1 and 2 at the rota west harbor

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded Commonwealth Ports Authority a $1.26 million Project Grant under the National Infrastructure Investments program (CFDA 20.933) on September 25, 2025, to plan improvements for Berths 1 and 2 at Rota West Harbor in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The award will be completed by February 28, 2030, and encompasses a comprehensive feasibility study with multiple integrated components designed to inform future berth enhancement efforts.

The deliverables under this grant include: (1) a feasibility study assessing all aspects of the proposed berth repairs with consideration of technical, economic, and environmental concerns; (2) in-water biological surveys of the harbor's underwater and above-water environments to evaluate impacts on endangered and threatened species, including Acropora globiceps coral and green and hawksbill sea turtles, as well as essential fish habitat designated under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; (3) public scoping meetings to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and solicit input from community stakeholders, local governments, and federal agencies; (4) permitting support; and (5) design and cost-benefit analysis to guide project implementation. These planning activities will provide comprehensive environmental, economic, and technical recommendations for compensatory mitigation measures and inform decisions regarding berth repairs and potential habitat improvements.

Project activities include conducting a feasibility study in water biological surveys public scoping permitting designs and cost benefit analysis. Activities to be performed the project will be completed as one component with the following elements. Element 1 a feasibility study of alternatives. The proposed feasibility study will assess all aspects of the proposed project. IT will provide considerations for the berth repairs based on all the findings from the items listed below including technical economic and environmental concerns. Element 2 in water biological surveys. The biological surveys of the port will include underwater and above water study of the harbor. Underwater surveys of the project areas must be conducted due to the prevalence of endangered and threatened species such as the acropora globiceps coral and green and hawksbill sea turtles as well as for essential fish habitat. The feasibility study must take into account the potential for endangered or threatened species to be 1 affected by the project and 2 to be beneficially affected through habitat improvement. Potential impacts to essential fish habitat designated for western pacific fisheries under the magnuson stevens fishery conservation and management act MSA must be assessed and results should provide recommendations for potential compensatory mitigations.element 3 public scoping. Public scoping will be conducted to fulfill nepa requirements. Meetings will be conducted for the community to bring about concerns and ideas from rota citizens companies and other stakeholders including ngos fishermen and harbor port users. The recipient will engage with local and federal government agencies as required especially if opportunities to partner arise during the feasibility stage. In addition, typically, before any bid selection the recipient conducts pre-bid meetings to clarify any issues and address questions that the general public stakeholders and potential bidders may have. Element 4 permitting including drafting of biological assessments for endangered and threatened species on land and in the water. The feasibility study surveys and public scoping will address the permitting processes. The appropriate USACE permits must be acquired for the berth improvements. The permits must include nepa analyses endangered species act analyses and other analyses e g national historic preservation act clean air act clean water act etc. The permitting process must also be fulfilled locally with the northern mariana islands government. Biological assessments must be developed to fulfill ESA and MSA requirements to assess impacts on endangered and threatened species their critical habitat and essential fish habitat. The recipient has discussed the potential permitting requirements with the USACE and will be actively engaged with USACE throughout the permitting process. The permitting process will also rely on the designs developed in the design phase. Element 5 design of the berths. An engineering company must design the berth improvements. The preliminary design including numeric modeling will inform the feasibility study alternatives analysis. After completing the feasibility study the final design will be performed on the recommended alternative. Element 6 a cost benefit analysis. Cost benefit analyses for the improvements at the rota west harbor will be conducted to assist with applying for construction funding in the future. The improvements at the harbor in particular will have a multiplying effect on the economy as this would allow increased tourism and private development which must be captured in a cost benefit analysis. Deliverables expected outcomes there are no performance measure to raise grants. Intended beneficiary commonwealth ports authority. Subrecipient activities none.