J”
Board (EPB).
In aadition to administration and promulgation of laws and
rules the EPB can accept appropriations and grants from the U.S. Government
or other agencies,
public or private; establish criteria for classifying
water, air and land in accordance with present and future uses; establish and
provide for a permit system for the discharge of any pollutant to water, air
or land; and collect information and establish record keeping, monitoring and
reporting as
necessary to properly administer a program of environmental
health and pollution control.
Observations and Recommendations
With the emergence of the new status of a Freely Associated State and the
dissolution of the Trust Territory, serious consideration must be given to the
development of appropriate laws, rules, regulations and/or codes governing the
activities
and responsibilities of the Environmental
Health Department of the Marshall Islands.
Health Division
in the
Also the various EPB functions will
have to be assumed by local staff in addition to their continuing programs in
environmental health.
The assumption of the additional responsibilities will
result in a need for additional skilled manpower.
Trust Territory of Pacific
Islands staff should work with the local staff to provide training and guidance
‘ during this critical transfer period.
The problems of water supply and sanitary disposal of human waste has been
well studied, analyzed and reported on, especially in the more urbanized centers
of Majuro and Ebeye.
problems.
No attempt will be made in this plan to review all these
Most of the published reports are referenced in Appendix N.
Some of
the proposed plans to deal with the water supply and wastewater disposal problems
are being implemented or will be implemented in the form of large public works
type projects for building, repairing and/or upgrading the public water supply
systems and wastewater disposal systems of Majuro and Ebeye.
These projects are
or may be funded under grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or
other U.S. Government Agencies.
One problem with these large public works projects in the past and at the
present
time
administration,
is
the
lack of
operations
and
tlocal
trained
management
personnel
including
programs for these projects after they are completed.
to
take
preventive
over
the
maintenance
Also Jocal government
funding for operations and management is usually not sufficient to maintain the
system, even if well qualified personnel were available.
It is recommended that