Environmental Quality Protection Board Executive Officer Portia K, Franz said that the notice of violations was issued to the President, to the United Trust Construction Company, the construction firm’s owner Haruo Esang and the construction foreman Dong Rodio.Franz said that the notice of violation was issued to the respondents on August 12, 2008.The Executive Officer said that EQPB inspectors went to the site, at the Chol, Ngaraard State, where the two- storey house was located, on August 8, to inspect the structure after a concern citizen reported a potential violation.Franz said that when the inspector arrived at the site, the house was almost finished and the workers were only doing some finishing works.The house is 32 feet wide and 44 feet long.Franz said anybody who would move the earth and would construct a toilet facility should secure a permit first at the EQPB before starting the construction.Franz said on that same day that the inspector went to the site, the workers were ordered to stop working the structure.Six days later after the notice of violation was issued, Mrs. Remengesau submitted an application for permit at the EQPB.“The First Lady submitted the application on August 18 and complied with the requirements. They took proper actions immediately,” Franz said in an interview yesterday.Franz said the next step would be to determine how much would be the penalty.She said the Board is scheduled to meet on August 28 to decide on the penalty.Franz said the standard penalty for any violations is up to $10,000 a day.Franz said the incident is a strong message that EQPB regulation applies to all citizens in Palau.
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