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Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources

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The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PRDNER) (Spanish: Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico) is the executive department of the government of Puerto Rico tasked with protecting, conserving, developing, and managing the natural and environmental resources in Puerto Rico.[1][2] As of April 2022 the current interim Secretary is Anaí Rodríguez after the resignation of Rafael A. Machargo.[3] As of November 2020 the department has 1,096 employees.[4]

Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico
Department overview
FormedJune 20, 1972; 52 years ago (1972-06-20)
Preceding Department
  • Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources
TypeExecutive department
JurisdictionPuerto Rico
HeadquartersSan Juan, PR
Employees1,096
Department executive
Child agencies
  • Natural Resources Administration
  • Solid Wastes Authority (ADS)
Key documents
Websitehttp://drna.pr.gov/

History

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The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) was created by Law Number 23 of June 20, 1972. The first head of the Department was Cruz Matos.[5]

In 2016 the agency's headquarters where temporarily moved from the Cruz A. Matos building in Cupey due to problems with the ventilation.[6] Repairs would permit the agency to return to the building by 2021 after an investment of $1.7 million.[7]

In 2018 governor Ricardo Rosselló signed senate project 859 into law which merged the Solid Wastes Authority, Board of Environmental Quality and Company of National Parks of Puerto Rico into the department.[8][9]

In 2019 secretary Tania Vázquez Rivera resigned after a federal investigation was launched into irregularities within the department.[10][11] In February 2020 governor Wanda Vázquez Garced nominated Rafael Machargo as the new secretary of the department.[12]

During a Senate hearing in August 2021 secretary Rafael Machargo confirmed the agency did not have a plan for solid waste on the island.[13] As of 2021 the department also lacks engineers and other staff necessary to manage the pumping stations in various municipalities.[13]

2021 Sol y Playa Condominium controversy

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria the DRNA had authorized an emergency reconstruction permit for the cement fence around the pool area, part of the "Sun and Beach" condominium in Los Almendros beach in Rincón. In 2021 the owners of the property gained another permit to rebuild the fence in the area with plans to construct a larger pool and recreation area. On June 2, 2021, environmentalists began protesting the construction due to the environmental impact it would have on coastal erosion, turtle nesting, and because of laws which protect the island's coastal areas, labelling them as part of public property.[14][15] On July 2 a Hawksbill sea turtle began nesting inside the construction site which resulted in the department ordering the construction be paralyzed.[16][17] The turtle returned on two other occasions to continue nesting.[18] In the following weeks lawyers of the agency noted the construction had continued even with the cease and desist order.[19] As a result, the dispute escalated with 200 people protesting on July 24.[20] A group protested outside the DRNA headquarters asking for secretary Rafael Machargo to resign on July 7.[21] On August 4 the Puerto Rico Planning Board unanimously ordered the construction be halted after determining the permits granted where illegal.[22] The board of the condominium insisted the construction was legal and that they were unjustly targeted.[23] The board appealed the decision but a judge ruled against them indicating they must remove all the construction.[24]

2022

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In March 2022 governor Pedro Pierluisi announced the agency would receive $4 million to restart the training academy enabling the DRNA to hire new personnel for the agency.[25]

Agencies

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References

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  1. ^ "Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA)". Government of Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  2. ^ "Ley Orgánica del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales" (PDF). Government of Puerto Rico. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  3. ^ "La secretaria interina del DRNA acepta que hubo "crímenes ambientales" en bahía Jobos en Salinas" [The interim secretary of DRNA accepts there was environmental crimes in Bay of Jobos in Salinas]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  4. ^ "El DRNA se quedaría sin la mitad de sus empleados si se pone en vigor la Ley 80". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  5. ^ Informe de Auditoría DB-99-12 (PDF) (Report). Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales, Administracion de Recursos Naturales, Area de Recursos de Agua y Minerales. 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  6. ^ "Cerrado por problemas edificio de agencias ambientales en Río Piedras". www.noticel.com. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  7. ^ "DRNA moverá animales exóticos al zoológico de Mayagüez" [DRNA moves exotic animals to Zoo of Mayagüez]. El Vocero (in Spanish). 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  8. ^ Claudio, Ronald Ávila. "Rosselló firma reorganización del Departamento de Recursos Naturales". Metro (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  9. ^ M. Quintero, Laura. "Quedó formalizado el nuevo DRNA" [New DRNA is formalized]. El Vocero (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  10. ^ "Tania Vázquez renuncia como secretaria de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales" [Tania Vázquez resigns as secretary of Natural and Environmental Resources]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  11. ^ "Renuncia Tania Vázquez como secretaria del DRNA" [Tania Vázquez resigns as secretary of DRNA]. Primera Hora (Puerto Rico) (in Spanish). 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  12. ^ "Wanda Vázquez designa a Rafael Machargo como secretario del DRNA" [Wanda Vázquez designates Rafael Machargo as secretary of DRNA]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  13. ^ a b Vargas, Salomé Ramírez. "DRNA no cuenta con plan de trabajo actual sobre manejo de desperdicios sólidos". Metro (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  14. ^ Virella, Aiola (2021-07-19). "No causa contra Eliezer Molina y otros dos ambientalistas por protesta en Rincón" [No cause against Eliezer Molina and two other environmentalist for protest in Rincón]. Metro (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  15. ^ "No se detienen las manifestaciones en condominio de Rincón" [No end for protest in Rincón condominio]. Noticel (in Spanish). 2021-07-26. Archived from the original on 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  16. ^ Vargas, Salomé Ramírez. "Condominio en Rincón asegura que salvaron a carey de una "jauría de perros"" [Condominio in Rincón assures that they saved sea turtle from "pack of dogs"]. Metro (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-07-02. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  17. ^ "El DRNA pide paralizar la construcción de piscina en Rincón para proteger el hábitat del carey" [The DRNA request construction of pool in Rincón be paralyzed to protect sea turtle habitat]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2021-07-09. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  18. ^ "Regresa carey a anidar en la zona de construcción del condominio Sol y Playa en Rincón" [Sea turtle returns to nest in zone of construction of the Soly y Playa condominium in Rincón]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2021-08-03. Archived from the original on 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  19. ^ "Abogado del DRNA denuncia que la construcción en Sol y Playa continuó ilegalmente" [Lawyer of DRNA denounces that construction at Sol y Playa continues illegally]. El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2021-07-20. Archived from the original on 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  20. ^ NotiCel (2021-07-04). "Cerca de 200 manifestantes llegan hoy a Rincón mientras la Policía sigue custodiando el lugar" [Close to 200 protesters arrive today at Rincón while police keeps custody of the place]. Noticel (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-07-24. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  21. ^ Marrero, Juan. "Organizaciones exigen renuncia de Rafael Machargo en manifestación frente al DRNA". Metro (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  22. ^ "Junta de Planificación ordena paralización en condominio Sol y Playa de Rincón por presunta ilegalidad en permiso de construcción" [Puerto Rico Planning Board orders paralyzing of Sol y Playa condominium in Rincón for alleged illegality of construction permits]. El Nuevo Día. 2021-08-04. Archived from the original on 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  23. ^ Jiménez, Lester. "Residentes de complejo en Rincón aseguran construcción de su piscina está en ley". www.noticel.com. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  24. ^ "Un juez de Aguadilla ordena demoler la piscina del Condominio Sol y Playa de Rincón" [A judge in Aguadilla orders the pool at Condominium Sun and Beach of Rincón to be demolished]. El Vocero. 2022-02-14. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  25. ^ "Gobernador asigna 4 millones al DRNA para nueva academia de vigilantes • WIPR" [Governor assigns 4 million to DRNA for new academy of rangers]. WIPR. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  26. ^ "Fallece el fundador del Zoológico de Puerto Rico". Ciencia Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
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