DEPARTMENT of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Sylvan Igisomar on Thursday said they are looking at ways to streamline the permitting process.
“We have federal partners coming in the next two weeks,” Igisomar said. “One of the items we are going to work on is to figure out better ways to streamline the permitting process of the department, at the same time making sure that our natural resources, and endangered species are also protected,” he added.
“We are trying to figure out the best way so that people, resources, and species can live in harmony,” Igisomar said.
The visiting federal partners, for their part, “will also look at our ways of doing business, permitting and other clearances,” he said.
Recently, a landowner, Alexandria Davis Steeley, sued the DLNR and the Division of Fish and Wildlife over the delay in issuing a land clearing permit for her Kagman homestead lot.
DFW, which is under the DLNR, stated that it has detected a male Nightingale Reed Warbler after conducting a survey in the area.
Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho, for his part, also expressed frustration with DFW’s lengthy permitting process for clearing overgrown vegetation on secondary roads.
Variety learned that some construction projects have also faced hurdles and delays in securing a permit from DFW.
Sylvan Igisomar
