by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Minority Leader Frank Blas, Jr. is requesting for the 2012 report to Congress on the impacts of the Compacts of Free Association from the Department of the Interior's assistant secretary of insular affairs, Tony Babauta.

In a letter to Babauta, Blas cites how public law requires the secretary of the interior report to Congress no later than May 1 of every year on the governor's comments on the impacts of the compacts along with the Administration's analysis of such impact and any recommendations for corrective action.

According to Blas, after looking on the DOI website, he noticed only the 2011 report to Congress dated last year. He adds that with the current budget hearings, it's anticipated that a discussion on the fiscal impact of the COFA will occur, so the report would be a vital source of information.

Babauta has since responded, saying the Interior has in fact not received any comments or reports from the affected , including Guam.

Blas meanwhile has written to the Governor's Office asking for verification as to whether or not the report was in fact sent requesting for the specific date and method in which the report was transmitted.