GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Thursday signed Executive Order 2022-05, formally establishing the Governor’s Environmental Council.
Citing Article I, Section 9 of the NMI Constitution, Torres said that the Commonwealth government has successfully established a governmental regulatory framework to enforce the environmental standards to protect and preserve the Northern Marianas environment.
Article I, Section 9 of the NMI Constitution states that “each person has the right to a clean and healthful public environment in all areas, including the land, air, and water.”
“The responsibility of protecting the environment is shared by all residents of the CNMI community, both private and public,” the executive order reads.
It adds that collaboration between members of the public and its government on the critical issues regarding environmental protection, sustainable development, and conservation allows for community ownership in the protection of the Commonwealth’s resources and the sharing of skills, expertise and knowledge to aid the government agencies in implementing their respective mandates.
“The long-term interest of all residents of the CNMI would be best served through providing members of the public a voice in the critical issues facing its environment and to aid the government in delivering the policies, programs and initiatives that will see the lasting protection of the Commonwealth’s resources for future generations,” the executive order reads.
The Governor’s Environmental Council, or GEC, will be chaired by a representative of the CNMI community chosen by the governor.
GEC members will be appointed at the governor’s discretion, hailing from various government and non-government sectors, holding backgrounds and expertise in environmental policy, conservation, and environmental activism.
Members to the GEC will serve as environmental advisers to the governor at no expense to the CNMI Government.
They may be removed at the discretion of the governor or by a vote of the GEC members.
The GEC shall be advisory to the governor and its responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to the formulation of policy initiatives or community activities to encourage environmental protection, conservation, and sustainable development; providing recommendations to the governor on environmental issues relating to the administration of the executive branch and its departments and agencies; the creation of detailed reports to advance environmental policy initiatives beneficial to the CNMI population; conducting a review of current environmental laws and policies to determine their efficacy in protecting the environment; and proposing studies to be conducted related to the CNMI environment to include surveys, valuation studies, cost benefit analyses, and willingness to pay estimations.
“I direct all departments and agencies of the CNMI government to fully support and cooperate with the GEC in the performance of this executive order,” the governor said.
The GEC will convene for meetings at least once every three months.
Ralph DLG Torres
