He Natural and Environmental Resources Department (DRNA) called to citizens to complete the processes of permits related to land removal and impact to trees, particularly native, even in the case of private small areas or farms.
“It doesn’t matter if your farm is, to be a bit of your land in a mountain, all land removal needs permission”the Undersecretary noted Nelson Cruzin an interview with The new day.
Cruz’s expressions – also commissioned DRNA vigilant body– They arise after this media published, at the beginning of April, that state and federal authorities investigated land removal In a landscape property to National Forest El Yunquein jurisdiction of Canovanasa situation that has generated concern between neighbors, and the City Council itself, given the possibility of adverse environmental impact in an ecologically sensitive area.
The matter, said the Undersecretary, continues under investigation.
Cruz said that when Drna’s guards went to the area to investigate the complaint, they found that, in a nearby house, another individual carried out a project that implied the removal of land and that, in addition, trees had been removed.
The inquiry of the vigilantes found that the person who owns this second property did not comply with the corresponding permits for these actions, so they did a complaint before the Planning Boardwhose technicians must now evaluate the matter together with the findings of the guards.
“The vigilantes who were a special unit that we create to meet issues where there are permits involved; we want to have preventive patrol”Cruz said.
In the second case, said the Undersecretary, the guards found possible violations of the Forest Law (Law 133 of 1975), since there was tree removal. A DRNA’s forest biologist evaluated the impact as part of the investigation.
As part of the inquiry, Cruz said that, in all cases, it is evaluated whether the trees that are removed serve as a habitat for endangered species, which would mean violations of the new Wildlife Law of Puerto Rico (Law 241 of 1999).
He recalled that, by virtue of the Law 110 of 2020 (Law of the body of natural and environmental resource vigilantes), DRNA guards are empowered to intervene and carry out inspections related to agency’s own permits, but also of the Permit Management Office (OGPE), the Auxiliary Secretariat of Environmental Health of the Health Department and any other entity that manages environmental laws.
“For example, one of the simple requirements is that, on the outside of the project, they have to have a label with the permit or application number, if they are in the process of application. If that permit is violated, that is a sufficient cause for the guard to paralyze the project”Cruz said.
As for the case that led to Drna to Canobanas, he added that, in several visits, the guards had not been able to find the person who owns the land, so they would make new attempts visiting the place. Preliminarily, the OGPE only found vegetable layer removal, an issue on which only DRNA has jurisdiction.
After The new day He would visit the property – in the Cubuy neighborhood – for the history of April, one of the owners of the project, who preferred not to be identified, denied any imputation, and mentioned that the works are related to an agricultural work, of which he did not give details. On this occasion, the person was not available for additional comments.
“Things must be done in law, request permits, have the consulting and support of professionals who are certified for that type of work. Here it was raining three weeks run; the fear of us is that this land can yield, apart from the deforestation and contamination of the bodies of water”he said, meanwhile, Ana Delia Velázquezwhose house borders the land where the land movements were made.
“The main thing in this is communication. One, as a good neighbor and to seek an atmosphere of healthy coexistence, at least, makes the approach to your neighbor,” added Velázquez, who still expects that type of notification from the owner of the property in the sight of the authorities.
The DRNA also investigates the impact to the second land, whose owners raised concern because the earth exceeds the levels of its gate and fear that the runoff affects them, especially during periods of rain. In this other case, the agency has not certified whether or not there was an impact on natural resources. The complaint that the Drna received collects, among other things, that there was logging of trees.
What permits are necessary?
The permission class that a person must manage will be directly related to the nature and magnitude of the intervention that plans to carry out, as well as with the particular ecological characteristics of their farm.
In general terms, any action that involves the modification of the land or that may have an impact on wildlife will require the evaluation and approval of the DRNA or of various government units, Cruz explained.
To obtain the corresponding permit, the person must visit the Secretariat Officeon the first floor of the DRNA headquarters, in San Juan, or go to the regional offices. When going to the office, the property deeds must have in hand, as well as images of the land, tree or trees that would be impacted. This includes trees pruning, when the impact will be greater than 25% of the tree, he added.
For projects that involve excavations, fillings, leveling or any considerable movement of land, you are likely to need a construction permit or a land movement permit.
On the other hand, if your project could affect protected fauna species, in danger of extinction or even common species that inhabit the area, you may need specific permits emitted by DRNA. This could include environmental impact studies or even the prohibition of certain activities in areas considered sensitive from the ecological point of view.
The procedure to achieve the required permits may vary depending on the nature of the project and the agencies involved, so Cruz recommended an early consultation with the DRNA to know the requirements before completing formal requests, which usually require detailed information about their project, plans and relevant technical studies, depending on the magnitude of the work.