U.S. Territory of American Samoa

Overview
Federal Environmental Requirements and Agencies
Government of American Samoa
Environmental Issues
Historic and Cultural Preservation Issues

Overview

American Samoa is comprised of five islands and two atolls with a total land area of approximately 77 square-miles in the South Pacific, located about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. American Samoa is in the UTC/GMT-11 time zone. Pago Pago on Tutuila Island is the capital.

Tropical cyclones and hurricanes with high winds, high surf and heavy rainfall can cause flooding, landslides and mudslides, damaging coastal towns and subsistence agricultural plots.

Federal Environmental Requirements and Agencies

Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal laws is required for obligation of FEMA funds. FEMA's Region 9 Environmental Office consults with the following agencies and others as needed:

US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
USDOI/ National Park Service (American Samoa)
USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (Pacific Islands Area)
NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) -
     Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
     Global Monitoring Division
     Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
US Army Corps of Engineers (Honolulu District)
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Region 9/Pacific Islands)
US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
US DOI/National Park Service (National Park of American Samoa)

Government of American Samoa

An unincorporated territory of the United States and administered by the US Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs, American Samoa is responsible for compliance with its own environmental laws and procedures. The following are links to helpful resources for environmental compliance:

Territorial Emergency Management Coordinating Office (TEMCO), Pago Pago 96799 telephone: (011)(684) 699-6415; fax (011)(684) 699-6414
Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources
Department of Parks and Recreation
American Samoa Historic Preservation Office
Department of Public Works
Department of Commerce, Environment Division

Environmental Issues

Threatened and endangered species include sea turtles and whales. The presence of these species in project areas may require construction be limited to non-nesting seasons.

Migratory birds commute annually between Alaska and American Samoa.

Fresh water is of limited quantity and quality. Compliance with USACE Clean Water Act permits may be required for stocktanks, washes, rivers, streams and wetlands to meet American Samoa water quality standards.

Asbestos removal and disposal, sludge removal, and debris incineration must meet American Samoa and federal requirements.

Historic and Cultural Preservation Issues

There are several sites and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including a courthouse, schools, traditional villages, archaeological sites, U.S. Military buildings, and naval guns.

There is currently no Programmatic Agreement for Historic Places in place for American Somoa.

Last Modified: Monday, 29-Oct-2007 12:03:07 EDT