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Marine conservation bill lands in waste bin
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Posted on Apr 03 2001
Governor Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday sealed the rejection of a proposal that would help preserve the Commonwealth’s marine resources, citing Senate Bill 12-79’s inability to clearly define enforcement procedures and powers.
While acknowledging that the proposed measure has only good intentions in a way that it would protect and preserve marine resources in the CNMI through conservation, Mr. Tenorio said SB 12-79 would create confusion in enforcement.
SB 12-79 seeks to establish marine life sanctuaries in the Managaha, Coral Garden and Pinatang Park areas.
But the governor explained that conflicting delegation of authority in the enforcement of marine life protection and preservation measures firmed up his decision to return the bill to the Legislature without his approval.
He pointed out that Public Law 12-33 gives the Board of Public Lands the authority over the management and disposition of public lands.
This, as SB 12-79 gives the Division of Marine Conservation within the Department of Lands and Natural Resources the power to designate the marine conservation boundaries with the Coral Garden and Pinatang Park.
“These grants of authority are incompatible,” Mr. Tenorio told legislative leaders in his transmittal letter dated April 2.
He added that SB 12-79 was introduced in September 2000, when DLNR still had the authority over the management and disposition of public lands, which it no longer does under PL 12-33.
This is the case because the lands and natural resources department had the authority over the management and disposition of public lands pursuant to Public Law 10-57, when the Division of Marine Conservation under DLNR was created on Aug. 8, 2000.
However, PL 12-33, which was signed on Dec. 5, 2000 repealed and reenacted PL 10-57 by creating an independent Board of Public Lands, detached from DLNR, according to the governor.
“I urge the Legislature to revisit PL 12-12 and amend it as necessary in light of PL 12-33. Accordingly, I am returning SB 12-79 as disapproved, and urge the Legislature to work with the Board of Public Lands to achieve the goal that this bill is seeking to accomplish,” he said. (Aldwin R. Fajardo)
