reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter III - National Digitized Environmental Information System (§§ 8003 — 8003g) › § 8003 - Creation

(a) The National Digitized Environmental Information System is hereby established, to be under the responsibility and direction of the Environmental Quality Board. Then objective of this System is to gather, organize, and make available to the public, through electronic media, technical, educational, and scientific information, in existence or to be generated, about subjects relative to the environment and the natural resources, of both renewable and nonrenewable resources.
(b) The information contained in the National Digitized Environmental Information System shall be freely consulted and accessible. Such System shall keep a constantly updated bibliography of the information contained therein, which shall be available to System users.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 23, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter III - National Digitized Environmental Information System (§§ 8003 — 8003g) › § 8003a - Advisory Council—Establishment

(a) The Advisory Council for the National Digitized Environmental Information System is hereby established, to be attached to the Environmental Quality Board.
(b) The Council shall be presided by the Chair of the Environmental Quality Board and be composed, furthermore, by one representative from each of the following government and non-government bodies entirely or partially engaged in generating or receiving technical, educational, and scientific information about subjects relative to the environment and the natural resources: the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the Planning Board, the Department of Agriculture, the University of Puerto Rico, and one representative from non-government environmental groups. The latter representative shall be appointed by the Chair of the Environmental Quality Board, which appointment shall have a term of two years.
Representatives from each of private university systems accredited by the Council on Higher Education, which offer degrees in natural and environmental sciences, shall also be a part of the Advisory Council. The Chair of the Environmental Quality Board shall request that each of these institutions designate a member and an alternate member to represent them in the Advisory Council.
(c) None of the members of the Council shall receive salaries, per diems or similar compensations on account of their Council membership; except for the representative of environmental groups, who shall earn o account of per diems the amount of seventy-five dollars ($75) for each day he/she discharges his/her functions as an active member. However, the time devoted to the works of the Council may be considered as part of the tasks and tour of duty of its members.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 24, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter III - National Digitized Environmental Information System (§§ 8003 — 8003g) › § 8003b - Advisory Council—Duties and responsibilities

The Advisory Council for the National Digitized Environmental Information System shall have the following duties:
(1) To establish the criteria, in addition to those set forth in this chapter, to determine which information shall be incorporated into and be a part of the system.
(2) To determine priorities in the works to digitize that information which is not available through electronic media.
(3) To establish the organization of the System’s library.
(4) To recommend the sources that shall provide information to the System.
(5) To advise the Chair of the Environmental Quality Board in the drafting of regulations necessary for the effective operation of the System and the Council proper.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 25, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter III - National Digitized Environmental Information System (§§ 8003 — 8003g) › § 8003c - Duties of the agencies, municipalities, public corporations and instrumentalities, and universities

(a) Any agency, office, instrumentality, public corporation or municipality of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that receives or conducts research, studies or works of a scientific nature on the environment and the natural resources, shall remit a copy of such research, studies or works to the Environmental Quality Board.
(b) Students conducting works, studies or research on subjects relative to the environment and the natural resources that are a part of the requisites to obtain a degree (theses or thesis papers), shall be requested by the pertinent university authority to voluntarily furnish a copy of such thesis or thesis paper so that the same may be incorporated into the System.
(c) As for natural or juridical persons conducting research, studies or works of a scientific nature on the environment or the natural resources not destined to a public record or purpose, who are System users, System operators shall maintain a request addressed to such persons so that they may voluntarily submit a copy of such research, studies or works for the System.
(d) All copies shall be submitted in such format as the Chair of the Environmental Quality Board may define as adequate for the configuration of the National Digitized Environmental Information System, in an adequate electronic reproduction medium, so as to render the same accessible to all persons interested through electronic networks in existence or to be created.
(e) The various public institutions that, as part of their ministerial duty, are engaged in generating or receiving technical, educational, and scientific information about the environment and the natural resources, shall remit to the Environmental Quality Board a copy of studies, research and works of a scientific nature on such subjects as they have on file up to the present in electronic format, or establish with the latter agency such agreements as necessary in order for such information to be made accessible through the System by means of the necessary electronic links.
(f) As for federal agencies and instrumentalities operating in Puerto Rico which generate or receive information of a scientific nature about the environment and the natural resources, the Chair of the Environmental Quality Board shall request, under the same conditions as dependencies of the Commonwealth, that they remit copies of such information, or establish with these agencies such agreements as necessary in order for such information to be made accessible through the System by means of the necessary electronic links.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 26, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter III - National Digitized Environmental Information System (§§ 8003 — 8003g) › § 8003d - Gathering of information

The Environmental Quality Board shall contract, if it should deem necessary, to be charged to its next three annual budgetary appropriations and starting at the beginning of the next fiscal year, such services as indispensable so that within a term of three years, all works, research and studies of a scientific nature in existence on the subject of the environment and the natural resources recommended by the Advisory Council which are not on digitized format, are recorded into computer-accessible formats. The Environmental Quality Board shall begin with works, research or studies deemed to be essential for starting a National Digitized Environmental Information System, for which purpose, the Board shall follow the recommendations of the Advisory Council.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 27, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter III - National Digitized Environmental Information System (§§ 8003 — 8003g) › § 8003e - Access Center

(a) The Environmental Quality Board shall enable an area within or near its main offices in which it shall make available and accessible to the public, organized under an effective library system, with adequate personnel and with sufficient equipment and computer terminals, an “Access Center for the National Digitized Environmental Information System”. Such Center shall have a server as its main information archive, which shall be the main depository of the National Digitized Environmental Information System and contain the materials, documents, titles, articles and all other information of this System in digitized format and provide such electronic links as necessary to gain access to information systems, databanks or other pertinent sources considered to be important for the operation of the System.
(b) The Environmental Quality Board shall have a term of three (3) years to establish and render the Center operative and incorporate into the electronic information network known as the Internet, the same information as available in the Center hereby created. The information provided through this network shall be freely and readily accessible.
(c) In order to guarantee continuous access to the System, the Environmental Quality Board may deposit into other servers the information contained in the System.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 28, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter III - National Digitized Environmental Information System (§§ 8003 — 8003g) › § 8003f - Rulemaking authority

The Chair of the Environmental Quality Board shall be responsible for drafting regulations as necessary for the most effective operation of the National Digitized Environmental Information System, including such regulations as necessary to assess and charge the public for costs ensuing from requests from the public for copies, reproductions, maps or other similar materials deposited into the System. Provided, however, That such costs shall be computed and implemented solely to cover costs for reproducing such materials.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 29, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter III - National Digitized Environmental Information System (§§ 8003 — 8003g) › § 8003g - Appropriation of funds

The Environmental Quality Board is hereby authorized to use up to a maximum amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) available in the Environmental Emergency Fund each year for the next three (3) fiscal years to defray the installation and setting into operation of the National Digitized Environmental Information System. The Environmental Quality Board may also use, in order to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, any Commonwealth funds available to the Board in its special accounts or budgetary appropriations, as well as the federal funds available to the Board at present for this purpose or which it may receive in the future. As of Fiscal year 2005-2006, the Environmental Quality Board shall solicit funds as necessary in order to maintain and operate the System by incorporating this item into its annual budgetary appropriation.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 30, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004 - Purposes

The purposes of this subchapter are to create an emergency fund to respond to emergencies caused by hazardous substances or waste and to have the necessary funds to match with federal assistance provided under the Comprehensive Environmental Restoration, Compensation and Liability Act to remove hazardous substances or waste and to remedy the sites contaminated thereby.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 31, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004b - Commonwealth Commission—Generally

(a) The Commonwealth Environmental Emergency Response Planning Commission is hereby created, to be attached to the Environmental Quality Board. Such Commission shall be constituted by the Chair of the Environmental Quality Board, who shall preside; the Secretary of Health; the Secretary of Natural and Environmental Resources; the Secretary of Justice; the Secretary of Labor; the Director of the Commonwealth Emergency and Natural Disaster Management Agency; the Fire Marshall; the Superintendent of the Police; the President of the Public Service Commission; the President of the University of Puerto Rico; and the chairs of the Local Environmental Emergency Response Planning Committees elected pursuant to the regulations adopted by the Commission. Furthermore, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall designate five (5) public interest representatives as members of the Commonwealth Commission. Each of the members of the Commonwealth Commission shall designate, in writing, one person to substitute for him/her in the works of the Commonwealth Commission when necessary. These persons shall be recognized as Alternate Members of the Commonwealth Commission.
(b) The Commonwealth Commission shall adopt bylaws for its organization and operation. All determinations shall be taken by the affirmative vote of the majority of the members attending the meeting. All meetings or assemblies shall require a quorum equal to half plus one member of the Commonwealth Commission.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 33, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004c - Commonwealth Commission—Duties and responsibilities

(a) The Commonwealth Commission shall be in charge of implementing the provisions of Title III of the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act, better known as the “Emergency Response Planning and Communities Right-to-Know Act”, within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(b) Environmental emergency responses shall be planned taking into account the provisions of this chapter, and most particularly, the powers and authority delegated onto the Environmental Quality Board.
(c) The Commonwealth Commission is hereby empowered, among other things, to create and organize the Local Environmental Emergency Response Planning Committees in coordination with municipalities.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 34, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004d - Commonwealth Commission—Immunity

No judicial action whatsoever shall be admissible against the Commonwealth Commission or the local committees, or against their members or the public and private agencies or entities to which they may belong, or against the officers, officials or employees thereof, to claim compensation for damages allegedly resulting from the enforcement and compliance of the foregoing with the provisions of these federal and Commonwealth laws or to impede the foregoing from enforcing and complying with the same.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 35 eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004e - Environmental Emergency Management Program

(a) The Environmental Quality Board shall establish a program to adequately respond to and manage environmental emergencies and the necessary remedial actions in contaminated sites. The Environmental Quality Board shall be the leading agency in responding to this kind of emergencies. All matters concerning environmental emergency response planning shall be the responsibility of the Commonwealth Commission. The funds and resources necessary to maintain such program operating shall be solicited and consigned in the agency’s operating expenses budget.
(b) The Commonwealth Emergency and Natural Disaster Management Agency and all other agencies, departments, municipalities, and public corporations and instrumentalities shall provide the Board with all the assistance necessary in order to promptly and adequately respond to environmental emergencies, coordinate their respective emergency plan with the latter, and execute collaboration agreements as pertinent.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 36, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004f - Environmental Emergency Fund—Creation

(a) The Puerto Rico Environmental Emergency Fund is hereby created in the Department of the Treasury, to be administered by the Environmental Quality Board, hereinafter denominated the Fund.
(b) The Fund shall be made up by the fiscal resources approved by the Legislature, funds from the federal government, and other funds from any other source provided to accomplish the purposes of §§ 8004–8004o of this title, among which are the revenues collected under the “Used Oil Fund Act”, the “Used Tire Management Act”, and any other laws that order the transfer or the covering of funds into the Environmental Emergency Fund.
(c) In order to comply with the purposes of this chapter, as of June 30, 204, it is hereby provided that the Environmental Emergency Fund shall arrive at a balance of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), to be composed of twelve million, five hundred thousand dollars ($12,500,000) from the existing balance for Fiscal year 2003-2004, plus a revolving credit line of twelve million, five hundred thousand dollars ($12,500,000). It is hereby provided that, should an environmental emergency arise which requires the use of an amount greater than twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000), the mechanisms available through the Commonwealth Emergency Fund provided for in §§ 457–465 of Title 3 [can be used].
(d) The balance of the Environmental Emergency Fund may never be lesser than twelve million, five hundred thousand dollars ($12,500,000), excluding the aforementioned line of credit, at the beginning of subsequent fiscal years. Said balance shall be maintained with revenues from sources identified in this section, including resources from the Commonwealth Emergency Fund provided for in §§ 457–465 of Title 3.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 37, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004h - Rulemaking authority

The Environmental Quality Board shall adopt, promulgate, amend, and repeal rules and regulations as necessary in order to implement this subchapter.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 39, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004i - Notice to the Environmental Quality Board; responsive action; incident/accident report

(a) Notice to the Environmental Quality Board.— Any person who gains direct or indirect knowledge of an environmental emergency situation that poses a threat or an imminent risk of endangering human health and safety or the environment shall immediately notify the Environmental Quality Board and the pertinent authorities. The Environmental Quality Board is hereby empowered to adopt regulations on that matter.
(b) Responsive action.— Any time the Environmental Quality Board is notified of the occurrence or the possibility of the occurrence of an environmental emergency that poses an imminent risk of serious harm to the public health or safety or to the environment, after the Board has determined the reasonability and veracity of such notice, the Board shall respond to such emergency and require that the person held to be responsible or his/her identified representative onto whom he/she has delegated implement any responsive action as the Board may deem necessary and adequate to protect public health or safety or the environment.
Taking into account the urgency of the response that the situation may warrant, the Environmental Quality Board may state such requirement by immediate oral or written notice at the site and the time of the emergency or by oral and written notice after the emergency. If the person responsible should refuse to act, he/she shall be apprised of the legal authority of the Board conferred under Subchapters II and IV of this chapter to issue administrative orders with the imposition of penalties and fines for noncompliance, and as the situation may warrant, to request that the Department of Justice criminally prosecute the person responsible.
In the event that the person held to be responsible by the Board does not believe [him/herself] to be the cause of the environmental emergency duly identified by the Board, the former shall be entitled to an administrative hearing whereby he/she may present exculpatory evidence in his/her favor, pursuant to the rights conferred to any person under adjudicative proceedings, as per the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3.
(c) Incidence/accident report.— The Environmental Quality Board, through specialized technical personnel, shall have the authority to issue and serve at the time of occurrence of facts a notice upon the person responsible, so that the latter submit to the Environmental Quality Board within a maximum term of five (5) workdays a written incident/accident report stating the facts that led to the environmental emergency.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 40, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004j - Interagency coordination

The Environmental Quality Board shall coordinate any responsive actions taken under the provisions of this chapter with other government agencies, both Commonwealth and federal, which may have jurisdiction over the case, so as to prevent duplication of efforts or conflicts regarding actions or requirements pertaining to spills or spill threats or environmental emergencies that may affect public health, safety or environmental quality.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 41, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004k - Use of a credit line or the emergency fund

The Environmental Quality Board is hereby authorized to solicit, obtain and maintain a line of credit with the Government Development Bank for up to twelve million, five hundred thousand dollars ($12,500,000), to be sued exclusively, if necessary, to manage environmental emergency situations which require the use of all existing funds in the Environmental Emergency Fund. Repayment of this line of credit shall be under the care of the Office of Management and Budget, pursuant to the terms and conditions set by the Government Development Bank. If any case should arise which requires the use of all funds available in the Environmental Emergency Fund as well as the line of credit authorized under this section, the Board shall issue a certification to the Governor in connection with the environmental emergency situation and the amount of funds necessary to respond thereto or to remedy the pollution problem, and the latter shall authorize the use for such purpose of the funds available in the Emergency Fund created by §§ 457–465 of Title 3, through the corresponding executive order.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 42, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004l - Recovery of expenses

Necessary expenses in connection with responsive actions as incurred by the Environmental Quality Board and the agencies, departments, municipalities, corporations, and public instrumentalities lending support to the Board in striving to accomplish the objectives of this chapter to handle an environmental emergency, including the corresponding legal expenses, may be recovered by the Environmental Quality Board by means of an Administrative Order issued by such Board or through civil action instituted at the General Court of Justice of Puerto Rico or the courts of the United States of America, represented by its attorneys, the Secretary of Justice or a private attorney contracted for that purpose, against any person held responsible under this chapter or under the provisions of Subchapters II and IV of this chapter. The Board may recover three times the total amount of expenses incurred by the Board and the agencies, departments, municipalities, corporations, and public instrumentalities. The expense certification issued by the Environmental Quality Board shall constitute prima facie evidence of the fact that the expenses thus certified are necessary and reasonable. Any party adversely affected by a resolution, order or decision of the Environmental Quality Board in connection with the aforementioned certified expenses may request an administrative reconsideration or a judicial review pursuant to the provisions of §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “Uniform Administrative Procedures Act”.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 43, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter IV - Environmental Emergencies (§§ 8004 — 8004o) › § 8004o - Limited immunity

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions under any other law, no intervening party or person shall be responsible for cleanup, removal or disposal expenses or for damages arising from actions or omissions in remedying or attempting to remedy or eliminating an oil or a hazardous substance spill or in providing or offering attention, aid, assistance or advice following the National Plan or in responding to the instructions or orders of the Onsite Federal Coordinator or the designated Commonwealth official.
(b) The above immunity shall not apply to:
(1) The parties responsible for the spill.
(2) Incidents which lead to personal harm or death.
(3) Incidents wherein negligence or acts contrary to the laws are proven. The party responsible shall respond for cleanup, removal or disposal expenses and for any harm inflicted to any other person released from responsibility under this section.
(c) This chapter does not exempt from the responsibility that any party responsible may have for an oil or a hazardous substance spill of any kind.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 46, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter V - Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Environmental Trust Fund (§§ 8005 — 8005d) › § 8005 - Statement of purposes

It is hereby stated that the public policy of Puerto Rico is to develop and implement the “Latin American Green Bridge” program through the Environmental Quality Board of Puerto Rico, in order for the island to avail itself of the environmental experience of Latin American countries in their interaction, together with Puerto Rico’s experience, to protect the environment. Thus, the government seeks the enrichment of knowledge in legal and technical environmental aspects through the transfer and exchange of progressive technology in the implementation of environmental norms between participating countries and international entities and Puerto Rico.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 47 eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter V - Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Environmental Trust Fund (§§ 8005 — 8005d) › § 8005a - International Project Unit

The International Project Unit of the Environmental Quality Board shall have the purpose of carrying out the initiatives and objectives of cooperation and exchange of information, experiences, and technology pertaining to the field of environmental protection, as sought under the various agreements executed by the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico through the Environmental Quality Board with certain international entities and governments of the Caribbean and Central and South America.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 48, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter V - Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Environmental Trust Fund (§§ 8005 — 8005d) › § 8005b - Creation

The “Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Environmental Trust Fund” is hereby created in the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico. The Environmental Quality Board shall be the trustee of such Fund, in order to carry out the purposes and objectives sought by this chapter. The Fund is hereby authorized to pay for the administrative expenses charged by the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico. To that effect, any funds from private sources deposited into the Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Environmental Trust Fund, as well as any funds generated by the Environmental Quality Board in its sole discretion, covered into the Special Account Set for the Environmental Quality Board, and any other public or private funds.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 49, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter V - Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Environmental Trust Fund (§§ 8005 — 8005d) › § 8005c - Application of the Public Fund Investment Trust Act

The Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Environmental Trust Fund created under this chapter shall be established pursuant to §§ 1281–1289 of Title 7, better known as the “Public Fund Investment Trust Act”, with similar purposes, for which reason, the same shall enjoy exemption from taxes and all other exemptions as provided for under such sections.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 50, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter V - Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Environmental Trust Fund (§§ 8005 — 8005d) › § 8005d - Revenues and interest

Revenues and interest yielded by the Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Environmental Trust Fund shall be used by the Environmental Quality Board to finance its environmental technical exchange and international cooperation programs and to accomplish the purposes and objectives of this chapter.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 51, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006 - Public policy

(a) Environmental pollution must be prevented and diminished at the source. In cases in which pollutants cannot be offset, these shall be reused or recycled in a manner that is safe for the environment, and in its default, these shall be disposed of through the use of technology approved by the Environmental Quality Board, being its disposal into the environment the last resort, pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations.
(b) The efficient execution of this public policy shall improve the quality of life of Puerto Ricans, insofar as there shall be a decrease in health problems associated with pollution; the risk of affecting the food chain shall also be reduced; furthermore, the flora and fauna shall be protected; our socioeconomic sector would derive benefits, inasmuch as the costs for disposal, labor and purchase of raw materials would be reduced; the infrastructure would be protected; there would be an exchange of materials and products that can be reused; and, by reducing the amount of pollutants, the risk of being sanctioned by regulating agencies would be reduced.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 52, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006a - Definitions

For purposes of this subchapter, the words and phrases stated below shall have the following meaning:
(1) Pollution.— Means the degradation of the natural quality of waters, the air, or the ground, as a direct or indirect result of human activities, as set forth in the regulations of the Environmental Quality Board.
(2) Prevention.— Means any practice which reduces the amount of any hazardous substance or pollutant emitted into the environment or which must eventually be disposed of through solid waste disposal techniques. It also means any practice that diminishes health and environmental hazards through the disposal of such substances and pollutants. The term includes equipment or modifications in technology, processes or modifications in processes, product reformulation or redesign, material replacement, and improvements in maintenance systems, training, inventory control, and home maintenance.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 53, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006b - Establishment

The public policy set forth in § 8006 of this title shall be the basis for and be implemented through the Pollution Prevention Program of the Solid Waste Authority, which has been established for several years, with the purpose of developing a pollution prevention program for both the public sector and the private sector in Puerto Rico. The main purpose of the program is to maintain and protect our environment through pollution prevention and reduction at the source of origin, so as to create a healthy setting that promotes the integrated and sustainable development of Puerto Rico. The efficient promotion of the objectives of the Pollution Prevention Program (P2) shall improve the quality of life of Puerto Ricans, insofar as health problems associated with pollution shall diminish. Furthermore, the risk of affecting the food chain shall be reduced. The flora and fauna shall also be protected; our socioeconomic sector shall derive benefits, inasmuch as the costs for the disposal, labor, and purchase of raw materials shall diminish; the infrastructure shall be protected; materials and products that can be reused shall be exchanged; and, in reducing the amount of pollutants, the risk of being sanctioned shall be reduced for pollutant-generating facilities.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 54, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006c - Agencies responsible

The Solid Waste Authority shall be empowered to foster and develop research initiatives for the identification and design of measures or alternatives that reduce pollutants at their source and for the identification and design of alternatives to reuse and recycle pollutants whose generation cannot be prevented, through its Pollution Prevention Program (P2), in order to comply with the public policy established in this chapter and the regulations adopted by the Environmental Quality Board for the management, treatment, transportation and disposal of pollutants.
The Solid Waste Authority shall also coordinate with all other government agencies and instrumentalities so as to achieve a more efficient cooperation and disclosure of information among the same. Likewise, it shall join efforts with the Office of the Advocate for Small Businesses in the implementation and enforcement of this chapter.
The Environmental Quality Board shall be the agency responsible for seeing to the compliance with operating requirements established by this chapter, insofar as these are compatible with the regulations adopted and administered by the Board.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 55, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006d - Objectives

The main objectives of the Pollution Prevention Program (P2) of the Solid Waste Authority shall be:
(1) To promote pollution prevention and reduction at its source of origin.
(2) To seek the implementation of practices which reduce pollution by pollutant generators and the citizenry.
(3) To coordinate with all other government agencies and instrumentalities, as well as with the private business sector and the citizenry at large, to enforce the public policy set forth in this chapter.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 56, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006f - Environmental Quality Board—Delegation

The Environmental Quality Board shall further compliance with the public policy set forth in this chapter through its rulemaking authority, through the granting of permits, certificates, authorizations and/or endorsements, and through its oversight powers conferred under Subchapter II of this chapter and the regulations adopted thereunder.
The Solid Waste Authority may delegate onto the Environmental Quality Board any other power as necessary for the effective enforcement of this subchapter or any regulatory provision adopted thereunder.
None of the provisions of this chapter may be understood to limit the power of the Environmental Quality Board to impose measures as necessary, including the issue of orders and the imposition of sanctions, to discharge its overseeing functions as pertains to environmental issues in Puerto Rico.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 58, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006g - Donations, aids, funds

The Solid Waste Authority is hereby empowered to receive donations, aids, and funds, and to take loans and enter into contracts, leases, agreements, and other transactions with any agency or department of the United States of America, of any state, of Puerto Rico or of any political subdivision thereof or with private entities, and to invest the proceeds of such donations, loans or funds in the operation of the Pollution Prevention Program.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 59, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006h - Compatibility with other laws

This subchapter and the Pollution Prevention Program established therein are compatible with the provisions of the Solid Waste Authority Organic Act and the laws administered by such Authority, and the powers and authority delegated onto the Environmental Quality Board in the development and implementation of economically feasible and environmentally safe strategies that lead to a reduction in the volume of solid waste requiring final disposal.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 60, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006i - Regulations

The Solid Waste Authority, within a period of six (6) months as of the date of approval of this act, shall prepare regulations in which it shall establish the procedures to be followed by the Pollution Prevention Program pertaining the implementation of this chapter. Such regulations shall include, among other things:
(1) A written policy on pollutant prevention at their source of origin.
(2) The scope and objectives of the Program, including technologies, procedures, and training programs to be developed to ensure compliance with this chapter.
(3) A description and the method for periodic evaluations and/or audits that indicate the reduction achieved. Such evaluations and/or audits shall include information about the kinds and amounts of pollutants generated, where and why such pollutants are generated within the production process, the identification of potential pollutant reduction and recycling techniques that can be implemented, and management and supervision costs.
(4) The establishment of economically feasible technical options for pollutant reduction at the source of origin, including implementation plans and reporting requirements.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 61, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VI - Pollution Prevention Program (§§ 8006 — 8006j) › § 8006j - Annual report

The Pollution Prevention Program shall prepare an annual report for the Legislature not later than March 31, in which the Program shall state the achievements made during that year and the difficulties encountered, to be submitted together with a work plan for the next year. The Pollution Prevention Program shall be responsible for including in its second annual report, any suggested amendments to the law, or at any timely and necessary occasion.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 62, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VII - National Environmental Awareness and Reflection Day (§§ 8007 — 8007f) › § 8007 - Statement

The 1st day of July of every year is hereby designated as the “National Environmental Awareness and Reflection Day in Puerto Rico”.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 63, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWELVE - Conservation (§§ 1-16 — 8162) › Subtitle 8 - Environment II (§§ 8001 — 8162) › Chapter 501 - Environmental Public Policy (§§ 8001 — 8007f) › Subchapter VII - National Environmental Awareness and Reflection Day (§§ 8007 — 8007f) › § 8007a - Definitions

The following terms shall have the meanings stated below, except when the context of the provisions of this chapter clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) Agenda 21 or Program 21.— A broad action program encompassing all areas relative to the planet’s sustainable development from 1992 to the 21st century. The same was presented to all World Governments at the “Earth Summit” held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June, 1992.
(2) Sustainable development.— Development that meets the present needs without jeopardizing the needs of future generations. A process in which the economic, fiscal, business, energy, agricultural, industrial and other policies are formulated so as to achieve a development that is sustainable in terms of the economic, the social, and the ecological standpoints. These are ways of economic development and activities that neither degrade nor deplete the natural resources upon which life and the present and the future economic development are dependent.
(3) Ecological footprint.— The footprint measures the human impact on nature. In order to live, people consume that which nature offers. The ecological footprint measures what we consume of the natural environment. It shows how much productive land and water we use, expressed in acres or hectares, in our character as individuals, to maintain our lifestyles, produce all the resources that we consume, and dispose of the waste we generate. The average ecological footprint of an American is thirty (30) acres, that of a Hindu is 1.98 acres, and the average for an inhabitant of this planet is 6.92 acres. But the sad truth is that, for the present world population, nature only provides five (5) acres of productive space per Earth inhabitant. Therefore, citizens in developed countries throughout the world are living at the expense of the productive space of those less fortunate.
History —Sept. 22, 2004, No. 416, § 64, eff. 6 months after Sept. 22, 2004.