Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources facts for kids
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| Department overview | |
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| Formed | June 20, 1972 |
| Preceding Department |
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| Type | Executive department |
| Jurisdiction | Puerto Rico |
| Headquarters | San Juan, PR |
| Employees | 1,096 |
| Department executive |
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| Child agencies |
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| Key documents |
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| Website | http://drna.pr.gov/ |
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PRDNER) 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. As of April 2022 the current interim Secretary is Anaí Rodríguez after the resignation of Rafael A. Machargo. As of November 2020 the Department has 1,096 employees.
History
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.
In 2016 the agency's headquarters where temporarily moved from the Cruz A. Matos building in Cupey due to problems with the ventilation. Repairs would permit the agency to return to the building by 2021 after an investment of $1.7 million.
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.
In 2019 secretary Tania Vázquez Rivera resigned after a federal investigation was launched into irregularities within the Department. In February 2020 governor Wanda Vázquez Garced nominated Rafael Machargo as the new secretary of the Department.
During a Senate hearing in August 2021 secretary Rafael Machargo confirmed the agency did not have a plan for solid waste on the island. As of 2021 the Department also lacks engineers and other staff necessary to manage the pumping stations in various municipalities.
2022
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.
Agencies
- Natural Resources Administration
- Board of Environmental Quality
- Natural Resources Ranger Corps
- Solid Wastes Authority
- Company of National Parks of Puerto Rico- administers state parks including the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo
See also
In Spanish: Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico para niños
