Powers and Duties. (a) The Administrator of the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality is charged with the responsibility of administering the programs and provisions of this chapter. (b) The Commonwealth Superior Court shall have jurisdiction over violations of this chapter and shall approve the form of the citation issued for violations. (c) Apprehending officers, as defined herein, shall have the power to apprehend persons for violations of this chapter. (d) The Department of Public Safety is charged with the responsibility of removing dead animals found on public roads or highways and placing such carcasses on the side of the road away from traffic. The Department of Public Safety shall immediately inform the Office of the Mayor of the location of the carcass for its proper removal and disposal by the Office of the Mayor, or by the Office of the Mayor through a private contractor. At the request of BECQ, DPS shall train apprehending officers in those law enforcement skills necessary to carry out the intent and purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, techniques for stopping, apprehending and citing alleged violators of the provisions of this chapter. (e) The duties of the Administrator of the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality shall be to: (1) Implement programs in the areas of litter control, prevention, removal and disposal and promote and carry out public education programs; (2) Encourage public voluntary anti-litter campaigns; (3) Conduct educational programs intended to instill an anti-litter ethic; (4) Cooperate anti-litter efforts with other agencies of the government; (5) Design a Commonwealth anti-litter symbol; (6) Facilitate the design and placement of litter containers or receptacles bearing the Commonwealth anti-litter symbol to be placed along the public roads, highways, parks, beaches, and other public places of the Commonwealth, in cooperation with the Department of Public Works, the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Department of Public Lands, the Zoning Office or other relevant agencies and entities, public or private; and (7) In conjunction with DPL and Zoning Office, post anti-litter signs in public places where appropriate. (f) The Department of Public Works (DPW), or DPW through a private contractor, shall be responsible for maintenance of litter containers and receptacles along the public roads and highways of the Commonwealth, and for the regular disposal of litter deposited in said containers and receptacles. (g) The Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, or DLNR through a private contractor, shall be responsible for the maintenance of litter containers and receptacles at the public parks, beaches, cemeteries, recreational sites, and major tourist sites of the Commonwealth, and
for the regular disposal of litter deposited in said containers and receptacles, and may cooperated and consult with the Marianas Visitors Authority, BECQ, the Mayor’s Office, or other relevant agencies and entities to ensure the effective implementation of this section. Source: PL 6-37, § 4; (a), (d)–(f) amended, and (g) enacted by PL 19-53 § 3 (July 15, 2016), modified. Commission Comment: With respect to the references to the “Chief of the Division of Environmental Quality,” the “Department of Public Safety,” and the “Department of Public Works,” see Executive Order 94-3 (effective Aug. 23, 1994), reorganizing the executive branch, changing agency names and official titles, and effecting other changes, set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001. The Commission changed the capitalization of “Section” in (g) for the purpose of conformity pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(f).