Chapter 4: District Advisory
Boards
§ 401.
District environmental protection advisory boards — Creation; Membership.
§ 402. Officers; Compensation; Meetings; Administrative support.
§ 403. Powers and duties.
(1) There is hereby created in each district of the Trust Territory an advisory board of perpetual duration to be designated as a district environmental protection advisory board. The district board shall be deemed for all purposes an agency of the Trust Territory Environmental Protection Board; provided, that the district board shall not be delegated with the powers and duties of the Trust Territory Environmental Protection Board as enumerated in sections 207 and 208 of this title.
(2) The powers of the district board shall be vested in a board of directors, which shall consist of seven members, one of which will be the Environmental Protection Board member for the district, the other six shall serve four year terms, and be appointed by the district administrator with the advice and consent of the district legislature, which shall be required to act within thirty days from the date of each respective appointment. Appointments made while a district legislature is not in session may be made with the advice and consent of a committee of the legislature authorized to approve appointments.
(3) The first appointments made under the provisions of this section shall be made as follows:
(a) one member for a period of five years;
(b) two members for a period of four years;
(c) one member for a period of three years;
(d) one member for a period of two years; and
(e) one member for a period of one year.
(4) All appointments made thereafter shall be for a period of four years. The district planning officer shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the district board.
(5) Any member of the district board may be removed from the board by the district administrator for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office.
(6) In the event of any vacancy in the membership of the board, such vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments; provided, that appointments to fill vacancies on the district board shall be made for the unexpired term of the member who vacated the seat.
Source: COM PL 7-19 § 5(1), (2); COM PL 7-90 § 3; TT Code 1980, 63 TTC 510(1), (2).
Cross-reference: The statutory provisions of the FSM Environmental Protection Act are found in chapters 5 to 7 of this title.
Editor’s note: Chapters 1 through 4 of this title were designated subtitle I at the time of the first cumulative supplement in order to distinguish the Trust Territory provisions they encompass from the Federated States of Micronesia Environmental Protection Act, which is codified in chapters 5 through 7. For provisions on transition from subtitle I to subtitle II, see section 708 of this title. Wherever “this title” is used in chapters 1 through 4 it should be read “this subtitle.”
(1) The district board shall elect from among its members a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary. The district administrator shall designate a member to serve as a temporary chairman of the board until such time as the board shall elect a chairman. The district planning officer shall act as a technical adviser to the board.
(2) Directors shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to per diem at standard Trust Territory rates and reimbursement for travel costs when engaged in the business of the district board.
(3) The board shall meet not less than once each calendar quarter, and may hold such additional meetings as it deems necessary and appropriate.
(4) The district government shall provide such office space as may be required by the district board and shall provide such logistical and administrative support as may be required by the district board within the limits of availability.
Source: COM PL 7-19 § 5(3)-(6); COM PL 7-90 § 3; TT Code 1980, 63 TTC 510(3)-(6).
The powers and duties of the district environmental protection board shall include, but not be limited to the following:
(1) collecting data and any information relative to identifying the local needs with respect to controlling, protecting, and enhancing the environmental quality of the district and the Trust Territory islands;
(2) act as an agent of the Trust Territory Environmental Board in implementing its programs at the district level;
(3) conduct investigations, make studies, review local grievances, and make recommendations as needed to the Trust Territory Environmental Protection Board for constructive action;
(4) conduct its activities as a committee for the Trust Territory Environmental Board under appropriate circumstances; and
(5) perform any other related activities within the jurisdiction of the Trust Territory Environmental Protection Board.
Source: COM PL 7-19 § 5(7); COM PL 7-90 § 3; TT Code 1980, 63 TTC 510(7).