Senator’s proposed rock crushing operation files for Land Use Permit in neighborhood zone
By Asi Andrew Fa'asau andrew@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Another locally owned general construction company is seeking government approval to operate on individually owned land located within a residential area of Ottoville, Tafuna, and has filed a Land Use Permit application with the Project Notification and Review System (PNRS) Board. The Land Use Permit application was submitted by Tony’s Construction Company, which is owned by Saole Senator Utu Sila Poasa. Senator Utu is also the owner of the four‐acre parcel of individually owned land at the center of the proposed project. The proposal places an industrial‐scale construction operation in the heart of a neighborhood area, prompting regulatory review and community concern as the application moves through the PNRS process. During last Wednesday’s PNRS Board meeting, Jerome Tanzen, representing Tony’s Construction Company, appeared before regulators to outline and clarify the scope of the company’s proposed operations on individually owned land in Ottoville. Also present were three Ottoville residents who had attended the session to voice their strong opposition to the proposal. Moli Salesa testified before the PNRS Board that her home sits directly across from the parcel where Tony’s Construction Company intends to establish its industrial operations, placing her family on the front line of any impacts the project may generate. She stressed that the proposed rock‐crushing quarry would inevitably produce significant dust, which would be carried by the wind into nearby homes, including her own. Salesa said this posed a serious health and environmental concern for families living in the area. She further noted that the constant noise generated by quarry machinery would disrupt the peace of the neighborhood and diminish the quality of life for residents who have long called Ottoville home. Another major concern Salesa raised was the expected surge in traffic through an already crowded residential area, particularly the movement of heavy‐duty trucks and construction machinery. She explained that the neighborhood’s narrow dirt road was never designed to accommodate industrial traffic and warned that the increased volume would pose a serious safety risk to families living nearby. Salesa said she is especially worried for her children, who walk along the roadside each afternoon after being dropped off by the school bus near the store at the end of the street. With large trucks entering and exiting the proposed site throughout the day, she fears that the daily walk home — already challenging in a densely populated area — would become dangerous for young students navigating the same stretch of road. Moli Salesa’s testimony was reinforced by neighboring residents Tanya Fiaseu and her husband, Chris, who recently returned home from Honolulu. The couple now lives at the Liusala Apartments, situated on the parcel of land next to Salesa’s home, placing them in the immediate impact zone adjacent to the proposed industrial site. “Our concern is about the air quality, traffic noise, and also the water,” Tanya told the PNRS Board. She explained that after learning of the proposed rock‐crushing operation, she conducted her own research into similar facilities elsewhere. One article she found described a Texas neighborhood where residents complained of severe air pollution caused by dust generated by rock‐crusher machinery. “They confirmed that the dust from these operations contained harmful compounds like crystalline silica dust, which is small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs and is linked to lung cancer, asthma, and other severe respiratory irritation,” she said. “That’s why we strongly oppose Tony’s Construction Company’s proposed rock‐crushing operations in our neighborhood.” Fiaseu added that the community already struggles with low water pressure, and she fears that introducing a construction company — especially one operating heavy machinery and industrial processes — would further strain the limited water supply. “We live in a low‐water‐pressure area, and having a construction company operating there will no doubt affect the availability of water for residents in our neighborhood,” she said. PNRS Board Chairman Tino Ma‘o then turned to Tony’s Construction representative, Jerome Tanzen, asking whether he had any response to the concerns raised by the Ottoville residents. Addressing the issue of dust from the proposed rock‐crushing operation, Tanzen explained that the equipment would be positioned at the farthest end of the four‐acre freehold property — more than 100 feet from the road that separates the site from nearby homes. On the opposite side of the property, he noted, there are no residences, only a line of 10‐ to 15‐foot trees. According to Tanzen, these trees would help block dust from drifting beyond the site, and the company has advised the landowners not to cut them down. He also pointed out that the rock‐crushing machinery is equipped with a built‐in sprinkler system designed specifically to suppress dust during operation. Responding to concerns about water usage in an area already known for low water pressure, Tanzen said the company uses between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons of water during each crushing session. He emphasized that the operation is limited to only two days a week — Tuesdays and Thursdays — and that this schedule was clearly stated in their permit application. Tanzen maintained that the limited frequency and volume of water use would not significantly worsen the neighborhood’s existing water‐pressure challenges. An opportunity was then given for members of the public in attendance to speak, and John Faamatala, a Tafuna resident, offered strong remarks. Faamatala said he firmly believes that industrial activities posing environmental and public‐health risks should be located in the Tafuna Industrial Park rather than in residential neighborhoods. He noted that other companies engaged in similar work, such as McConnel Dowell and Paramount Builders, and operate in designated industrial zones, specifically the area across the airport road from the Veterans Memorial Stadium. Three Ottoville residents and Tony’s Construction Company representative Jerome Tanzen appeared before the PNRS Board last Wednesday to discuss the company’s proposed industrial operations in a residential area. Pictured (l–r): Chris Fiaseu, Tanya Fiaseu, Jerome Tanzen, and Moli Salesa. [photo: Asi A. Fa'asau] (Samoa News should point out that residents behind the stadium, as well as those using the stadium or passing by the area, complained to Faipule Fagaima Larry Sanitoa about the dust/ or air quality due to Paramount’s rock crushing activity when it opened.) He reminded the gathering that this case is not unprecedented. In fact, it is the second time a locally owned general construction company has sought government approval to conduct industrial‐scale operations on land situated near a residential community. The first was Continental Transport Corporation (CTC), which proposed establishing its operations on a parcel of government land in Leone commonly known as the “Airstrip.” The name “Airstrip” comes from the World War II–era Leone Airfield, built in 1943 and abandoned in 1945. The old runway’s flat corridor still runs through Leone, passing sites like Leone High School, Midkiff Elementary, and the former WVUV‐AM station, which is why the area is still called the “Airstrip.” In addition to its general construction services, CTC had outlined an extensive list of planned activities for the Airstrip site. These included the production, retail, hauling, and storage of cinders, sand, rock aggregates, and other construction materials—operations that relied heavily on the use of a rock‐crushing quarry. The scope and industrial nature of those proposed activities raised similar concerns about environmental impact, public health, and compatibility with surrounding residential areas. The concerns arose from the concentration of community institutions surrounding the Airstrip corridor — including Leone High School, Midkiff Elementary School, the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Center, the Leone Health Center, the Leone Police Substation and Fire Service, as well as numerous family homes. In August last year, CTC sought assistance from the Attorney General’s Office to secure approval for leasing the Airstrip land for commercial use. However, Attorney General Gwen Tauiliili‐Langkilde informed the company that she could not authorize the lease unless the Zoning Board first granted the requested variance. Her position, combined with strong opposition from the principals of Leone High School and Midkiff Elementary School, as well as residents living near the proposed site, ultimately led the Zoning Board to deny CTC’s application for a zoning variance. During the PNRS Board meeting last week, Faamatala said he appreciated that a public hearing had been held on Tony's Construction's Land Use Permit application for the individually owned land in Ottoville, giving residents the chance to voice their concerns before any decision is made. He added that too many commercial developments have been allowed to take root in residential areas, citing as an example the warehouses in Faga‘ima located directly across from the Methodist Church and surrounded by family homes. Before concluding, Faamatala reminded Ottoville residents of their legal rights should the PNRS Board’s eventual decision not align with their concerns. Under the law, he said, residents have ten days from the date the decision is issued to file a request for reconsideration. A PNRS Board decision on the case is now pending. Section: Local News Tags: Land use permit
2026-03-27 18:07:15