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COMMUNITY BRIEFS

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PUBLIC FORUM ON PROPOSED NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A public forum on the proposed designation of a national marine sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 5 - 7:30 p.m. at Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium.

The forum is co-hosted by ASG and NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, and will include a brief overview of the sanctuary designation process and next steps. The public will be able to participate in facilitated break-out discussions on potential impacts and opportunities, resource conservation, education and outreach, research and monitoring, and cultural and maritime heritage issues related to the proposed designation.

After holding initial public meetings and reviewing thousands of public comments, NOAA is developing a proposal for a national marine sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands. This forum is an opportunity for American Samoa and NOAA to share information and listen to community concerns.

Participants are encouraged to register in advance: https://forms.gle/x2JjKvDqGDVfG9Zs8

ASG and private sector businesses, associations, individuals, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, local and federal agencies will be on hand and the forum is open to the public.

ECONOMIC CENSUS FOLLOW UP

It has been eight months since the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Census Division initiated the online census reporting, where businesses must complete census forms electronically.

About sixty percent (60%) of local enterprises and businesses have completed this mandatory federa  lcensus.

The American Samoa Department of Commerce Statistics and Analysis Division will begin the verification and field follow-up enumeration starting Monday, September 4, 2023, for those enterprises and businesses who still need to respond to the economic census.

For more information, please contact the DOC Statistics & Analysis Division at 684-633-0120 or email americansamoastatistics@doc.as.gov.

AM SAMOA RECEIVES FUNDS TO COMBAT INVASIVE SPECIES

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) yesterday announced funding in fiscal year 2023 Coral Reef and Natural Resources Program (CRNR) grant funding that will go towards combatting invasive species in the territories and the freely associated states. This amount supplements funding for coral reef management and protection.

 “Invasive species are disruptive and destabilizing to eco-systems in the islands in ways that threaten food sources and the livelihoods of people in these areas,” said Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor. “Combatting invasive species and mitigating their threat is a priority throughout the Insular Areas. We are pleased to provide this support.”  

Projects and programs directed towards combatting invasive species in the Insular Areas through the Coral Reef and Natural Resources program in fiscal year 2023 include:   

American Samoa - $486,628

  • •          The Government Biodiversity Conservation Office will use the funds for the Protecting American Samoa's Wildlife and Paleotropical Rainforest Habitats by Managing Invasive Bird Populations project on Tutuila.

ELISAPETA SAGOTE NAMED TO SNHU DEAN'S LIST

Elisapeta Sagote of American Samoa has been named to Southern New Hampshire University's Summer 2023 Dean's List. The summer terms run from May to August.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

THREE AM SAMOA STUDENTS ON SNHU PRESIDENT'S LIST

It is with great pleasure that Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) congratulates the following students on being named to the Summer 2023 President's List. The summer terms run from May to August.

The American Samoa students are: Shalom Solomona, Sili Galeai and Angelo Kline.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with a 90-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 170,000 learners worldwide,