Cnmi Division Of Environmental Quality

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Division of Environmental Quality, also known as the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ), is a government agency responsible for environmental management and protection in the CNMI. Through federal grant awards, the agency implements a wide range of environmental programs focused on air, water, and land resources. These programs include enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act, water quality monitoring, watershed management, brownfields cleanup, pesticide regulation, air quality permitting, hazardous and solid waste management, and environmental education. The BECQ-DEQ plays a crucial role in safeguarding public health and the environment across the Northern Mariana Islands.

Recent federal grant awards to the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality demonstrate its diverse environmental responsibilities. The agency received a $21.9 million Cooperative Agreement from the EPA to implement a consolidated environmental management program, covering activities such as drinking water protection, beach water quality monitoring, and air quality management. Another EPA grant of $152,696 under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act funded the replacement of outdated diesel equipment with cleaner Tier 4 models to reduce air pollution. The agency also obtained $407,000 for drinking water program assistance in small and underserved communities, focusing on unregulated contaminant monitoring and water system improvements. Additionally, an $886,692 grant supported post-Typhoon Yutu solid waste management and the development of sustainable waste programs. These awards, primarily from the EPA's Region 9, highlight the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality's comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship and its efforts to address both ongoing and disaster-related environmental challenges in the Northern Mariana Islands.