Program Description

Establishes and implements public policy related to water and mineral resources. In addition, plant and implement flood prevention and mitigation measures. Establishes the boundaries of maritime-terrestrial, rivers, forests, wildlife refuges and natural reserves. Counsels the Planning Board and the Regulations and Permits Administration (ARPE, Spanish acronym) on the feasibility of hydro-modification project techniques, mineral, geological and archeological resources. Services offered include: cleaning of channels and rivers, consultation evaluations for flood prone areas, issuance of construction permits and water franchises, issuance of permits for the extraction of minerals from the earth's surface and the inspection of landslide prone zones. Its primary function is to regulate and administer the use, management, conservation and development of non-regulated, because of its economic function, mineral resources in Puerto Rico and set the boundaries of lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.

Statistical Data	2011	2012	2013
Complaints attended	30	40	40
Flood control projects in acquisition phase	8	8	9
Flood control projects in construction phase	4	4	4
Flood control projects in design phase	2	2	2
Flood control projects in permits phase	2	2	2
Flood control projects under research	5	5	5
Hydrological-hydraulic studies	2	2	2
Maintenance works: cleaning riverbeds, rivers, water streams and aquatic weed	3	4	4

Statistical data provided by the Agency during the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

Customers

The population living in flood prone zones, near lakes, streams and rivers

Program Description

Implements public policy related to the management, administration and auxiliary support of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and its components. Services offered include: prepare reports requested by the Office of Management and Budget and the Human Resources Office; coordinates and administers the development of federal wildlife projects, endangered species, and management of costal zones, geographic, surveying and forests assistance.

Statistical Data	2011	2012	2013
Training	1,697	1,697	1,697

Statistical data provided by the Agency during the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

Customers

General public

Program Description

Implement and administer laws and regulations related to the use, conservation and protection of natural resources. Survey maritime-terrestrial and forest property lines, watch over the coastlines, lakes, forests, nature reserves and wildlife refuges through a continuous and uniform prevention system of ground, sea and air patrols. Services offered include: coordination of simple ground surface permit applications, supervise gravel pits and extraction from areas in the public domain, coordinate water franchise permit applications, process camping permits, clean and conserve forests, reserves and recreational areas and investigate complaints about land surface extractions.

Statistical Data	2011	2012	2013
Customers served	6,687	12,000	12,000

Statistical data provided by the Agency during the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

Customers

General public

Program Description

Protect, preserve and conserve natural resources to guarantee compliance with existing laws and regulations. Services offered to citizens include: conferences in schools, ground surface extraction permit inspections and hunting permit inspections.

Statistical Data	2011	2012	2013
Administrative fines for violation of laws and regulations	2,940	3,200	3,500
Training to Natural Resources Guardians	65	65	100

Statistical data provided by the Agency during the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

Customers

Hunters, bathers, boat owners, students, community groups, pet shop owners, fishermen, developers, business people and heavy equipment owners

Program Description

Provides administrative management, coordination and assistance to the Management Affairs programs; Water and Mineral Resources Administration and Preservation; Reforestation, Management and Conservation of Living Resources; Regional Coordination for Natural Preservation; the Park Rangers; Marine Safety and Citizen Training; Enviromental Protection Information and Education; Comprehensive Planning on the Use, Preservation and Development of Natural Resources; Permits, Endorsements and Specialized Services and the Secretary's Advisory Office.

Program Description

Promotes educational activities to make citizens aware of the importance of protecting, guarding and conserving natural resources so that they can be enjoyed now and by future generations. Services offered to citizens include: campgrounds, chats, seminars, conferences and publications. In addition, it provides an integrated technology system and maintains an electronic data base.

Statistical Data	2011	2012	2013
Community and other sectors activities to promote resources management	450	500	500
Lectures, conferences and camps on natural resources	5,000	5,000	5,000

Statistical data provided by the Agency during the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

Students and general public

Program Description

Supports the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and its components offering services to ensure operations, regulations, taxes and quasi-judicial authority are developed in accordance with legal principles. Provides legal counsel services to the Department, and counsels the Secretary of the Department of Natural an Enviromental Resources, its components, other governmental agencies, the Office of the Governor, the Legislature and citizens, regarding the laws and regulations administered by the Department. It represents the Agency in judicial proceedings, writes contracts, agreements, and legislative bills and proposes regulations. Acts as a notary, conducts research, interprets and applies governmental public policy about the conservation of natural resources and implements regulation of public interest and the adjudication of controversies and claims as provided by existings laws and regulations.

Customers

Project developers and the general public

Program Description

Manage natural resources and public property by issuing permits and endorsements. It oversees anthropogenic and fiduciary activities within the public domain that are directly linked to the economic development of the Island (Regulations: 4860, 6916, 25 and 6213). It evaluates and issues endorsements or comments about developmental proposals and activities regulated by other governmental entities where the Department of Natural Resources is involved in the evaluation process as an expert agency and because of its jurisdiction over natural resources. It also evaluates and endorses hydrological studies. In addition, it provides technical assessment, lands surveys, particularly for the boundaries in the public domain and geological aspects for processing permits and endorsement to other units attached to the Department.

Statistical Data	2011	2012	2013
Documents reviewed for environmental compliance	425	425	425
Hydrological-hydraulic studies evaluated	200	180	180
Provisional building permits	636	732	850
Residential, commercial & touristic development inquiries evaluated	1,538	1,500	1,500
Warehouse requests dispatched	900	558	820

Statistical data provided by the Agency during the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

General public, state and federal governmental entities and Natural Resources Department and Administration personnel

Program Description

Counsels the Secretary regarding the establishment and implementation of The Goverment of Puerto Rico's public policy as it relates to the use, conservation, development and administration of natural resources. Administers the Use, Monitoring, Conservation an Administration of Territorial Waters, Submerged Lands and the Maritime-Terrestrial Zone Regulations and Act No. 150 of August 4, 1998, as amended, that officially created the Natural Patrimony Division. Proposes management strategies for the planning of special areas and protected natural areas, acquisition of lands with natural value, compiles, updates and maintains the information in the Biological and Conservation Data Base. Evaluates authorization and concession applications for the use and management of areas in the common domain. In addition, it evaluates recomendations to land development and land use projects, comments on territorial organization plans, legislative measures and zoning change applications. It prepares management plans for special planning areas, protected natural areas and the designation of nature reserves.

Statistical Data	2011	2012	2013
Acres of high natural and ecological value land acquired	700	700	700
Regional plans, area plans and environmental impact statements evaluated	25	25	25
Requests for amendments to zoning maps evaluated	10	10	10

Statistical data provided by the Agency during the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

Customers

General public

Program Description

Responsible for investigating, planning and managing Island forestry, aquatic and wildlife resources. Services offered include: reforestation projects, scientific research permit evaluations and the exportation of wildlife, and hunting and fishing permit evaluations. Administers Act No. 133 of July 1, 1975, as amended, known as the Forests Act, Act No. 70 of May 30, 1976, as amended, known as the Wildlife Act and Act No. 83 of May 13, 1936, as amended, known as the Fishing Act.

Statistical Data	2011	2012	2013
Customers served	282,571
Exhibitions	84	324	600
Lectures, conferences and camps on natural resources	300	1,301	1,048
Trees planted or distributed	210,000	393,076	393,076

Statistical data provided by the Agency during the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

Customers

Visitors to forests, reserves and sanctuaries

Program Description

Protects the public and natural resources by promoting the responsible use of boats through information, education, regulation and law enforcement. Includes the following services: marine safety courses and registry, registration and inspection of boats as part of the public policy on marine safety and the aquatic recreational and sports practices related to Act No. 430 of December 21, 2000, as amended, known as the Puerto Rico Boating and Aquatic Safety Act.

Statistical Data	2011	2012	2013
Educational Activities	7,500	8,000	8,000
Registry	1,800	1,800	1,800
Special marine events authorized	175	175	175

Statistical data provided by the Agency during the fiscal year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

Customers

Sea craft owners, boating course participants and the citizenry in general

FISCAL YEAR 2012-2013 PROPOSED BUDGET

The proposed consolidated budget for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 amounts to $58,291,000. This amount includes $33,943,000 from the Joint Resolution-General Fund, $11,924,000 from Special Appropriations-General Fund and $12,424,000 in Federal Funds.

Operational expenses reflect a decrease of $15,412,000 when compared to funds assigned in fiscal year 2011-2012 due to the loss of a non-recurring Special Appropriation for the Improvement and Rehabilitation of the Bucaná and Portugués River Facilities and Act 70-2010 implementation of an incentivized early retirement program.

Resources from the Joint Resolution-General Fund will allow the Administration to continue developing public policy related to the conservation of our natural resources to maintain a balance between economic development and the quality of life.

State Special Funds are generated from fines collected and services offered by the Agency and will be used for operational and administrative expenses as stated by the following regulations: Act 430-2000, known as the Puerto Rico Boating and Aquatic Safety Act; Act No. 136 of June 3, 1976, as amended, known as the Water Resources Conservation, Development and Use Act; July 1, 1975, as amended, known as the Puerto Rico Forests Act, that created Forest Development Special Fund, and Act No. 132 of June 25, 1968, as amended, known as the Ground Surface Extraction Act. The Administration expects the same amount of resources as those assigned in Fiscal Year 2011-2012.

Contributing federal programs include: the Coastal Management Administration, Boating Safety Financial Assistance and Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance.

SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES