‘

of the sanitary deficiencies of all tne schools be obtained.

These deficiencies

-s,

should then be discussed with the Department of Education and a plan for bringing
the schools up to standards will be developed.
Table 6 shows that practically every island surveyed had rats that were
considered to be a problem; most also had fly problems,

mosquitoes.

and about half had

With proper frequent disposal of solid wastes, the use of water seal

toilets, and the proper covering or screening of water supplies, rats, flies, and
mosquitoes should all be minor problems especially around living areas.

It is

recommended that the Environmental Health Division treat serious rat, fly, or
mosquito infestations on a case by case basis.

One or two sanitarians should be

trained and certified to apply restricted-use pesticides.
There is no building code in the Marshall Islands, which contributes to over
crowding and inadequate sanitation in the urbanized centers.

Note that the

number of people per dwelling unit (household) is approximately twice as high in
urban Majuro and Ebeye as in many of the outer islands (see Table 6).
recommended

that

a

building

code

be

developed

based

on

a

permit

It is
system

administered by the Environmental Health Division.
There are indications that toxic chemicals in the form of polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCB's) have contaminated a storage area (for capacitors and other
electrical

equipment)

and

the

public

works

yard

in

urban Majuro.

It

is

recommended that soil samples in the PCB spill suspect area of Majuro and some
samples of reef fish in the lagoon nearby be analyzed for PCB's to determine the

degree and extent of contamination.
Environmental

Then

in

consultation with

Protection Agency a clean-up program should begin

the U.S.

immediately

along with measures taken to eliminate the problem source of the contamination.
Specific Recommendations
1.
Associated

It is recommended that with the emergence of the status of a Freely
State

and

the

dissolution

of

the

Trust

Territory,

consideration must be given to the development of appropriate

laws,

serious
rules,

regulations and/or codes governing the activities and responsibilities of the
Environmental Health Division.

Also the various Environmental Protection Board

functions will have to be assumed by local

staff.

The assumption of these

additional responsibilities wil? result in a need for more skilled manpower.
2.

It is recommended that for any major public works development funding

be included for expatriate management until local personnel can be trained.

13

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