House Ways and Means hears DLNR budget; department seeks revolving accounts, staff for biosecurity and land services

The House Ways and Means Committee heard a budget presentation from the Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR) on Tuesday, focusing on staffing shortages, grant delays for invasive‑species work and requests to create revolving accounts for lands and survey and for the Marpi Public Cemetery.

DLNR Secretary Sylvania Somar told the committee the department supports the governor’s budget submission and described operational and staffing challenges across the department’s divisions. “I wanna be clear that whatever the the governor’s submission is, that we fully support, understanding the times our economic, economy is in,” Somar said during the presentation.

The hearing was largely a question‑and‑answer session. Committee members pressed DLNR leaders on vacancy rates, the status of federal grants — including funding routed through the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) and Department of Defense (DOD) — and an array of revolving accounts used by DLNR divisions. No votes or formal funding decisions were taken at the hearing.

Why it matters: DLNR manages fisheries, wildlife, agriculture, parks and land records that affect local subsistence fishers, farmers and property owners across Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Several divisions rely heavily on short‑term federal grant funding that, if delayed, would stall hiring and operations, committee members were repeatedly told.

Staffing, grants and biosecurity: Somar and invasive‑species staff said several federally funded positions remain unfilled while grants undergo environmental review. Somar said the Brown Tree Snake program has nine positions and that “we are now, putting together the package for the brown tree snake program.” Committee members raised concern that some OIA awards are awarded but not yet available for spending because they are undergoing NEPA review and related federal processing. DLNR said it is working with OIA and engaging DOD to emphasize the urgency of biosecurity staffing at ports.

Division profiles and vacancies: DLNR provided a breakdown of current and proposed full‑time equivalents (FTEs): the secretary’s office (6 locally funded FTEs, all filled); Division of Agriculture (18 locally funded, 7 federally funded; two vacancies reported); Division of Fish and Wildlife (12 locally funded, 69 federally funded; 10 vacancies reported); and Division of Parks and Recreation (40 locally funded, three vacancies reported). Officials said locally funded entry‑level positions are hardest to fill because local salaries are less competitive than private‑sector jobs, particularly on Tinian.

Revolving accounts and revenue questions: Committee members and DLNR staff discussed 14 revolving accounts reported in the secretary’s office and additional restricted or operations accounts within divisions (DLNR said DFW has two operational revolving accounts; agriculture reported four revolving funds: animal services, soil and water, equipment services and farm plot fees; parks reported one). DLNR requested committee and legislative help to create or clarify revolving accounts for lands and survey and for a Marpi Public Cemetery. OMB representative “Vi” told the committee that allowing the department flexibility to move funds between accounts “allows us to support some of our operational needs, where we are short.”

Land registration and records preservation: Director Jack Song Song (division of lands and registration) told the committee the division currently lacks operational expense lines and is drafting fee regulations to generate revenue; he said many land records are in temporary storage and that the department is planning two Capitol Hill office spaces to better protect documents. Song Song said the division needs additional survey staff and a working scanner and computers to digitize maps; he estimated about $5,000 to repair the map scanner and asked for three additional computers.

Garapan Public Market and accounting questions: Committee members pressed DLNR on the Garapan Public Market, which DLNR said reported about 12,374 customers and $131,655 in sales in the most recent year cited. DLNR said the market has a bank account for sales revenue but committee members asked DLNR and OMB to confirm whether a designated revolving account exists and to clarify signatory and expenditure authorities.

Farms, equipment and water costs: Agriculture Director Jack Ogunorro described farm plot operations and equipment available to farmers, including tractors and pumps. Committee members raised concerns about low utilization of farm plots: DLNR said about 47 plots exist but roughly 13 are actively farmed. Directors said the division charges $10 per month for water to farm plot tenants but pays utility costs for pumps that draw water, and that solar pump installations are planned to reduce future electricity bills. Committee members urged DLNR to update fee structures and recovery mechanisms so revenue remains with the department.

Fisheries funds and enforcement: DLNR described several federal fisheries funding streams. Staff said the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund (related to quota sales) was discontinued after 2023 and that a number of approved projects still await federal processing. DLNR described a NOAA joint enforcement agreement that yields roughly six‑figure funding amounts in recent years and said it is working to resume and expand joint enforcement capacity, including in Rota and Tinian.

Parks, FEMA and infrastructure: Parks and Recreation Director Mike Cruz said the division has FEMA projects in procurement — for example repairs at a beach park — and that some bids are underway; he said a change in FEMA cost‑share rules affected project planning. Committee members urged timely obligation of available FEMA public‑assistance funds.

What the committee directed: Members asked DLNR to provide detailed revolving‑account balances, to confirm where market revenues are deposited, to refine proposed fee schedules for land registration, and to provide timelines for filling vacancies and for grant drawdowns. DLNR said it will work with OMB and the governor’s office on draft legislation to codify revolving accounts and on fee regulations.

Outlook: Committee members and DLNR officials agreed to continue follow‑up: staff were asked to deliver specific account balances, vacancy timelines, and draft fee and revolving‑account language to the committee. No formal appropriations or enactments occurred at the hearing; the DLNR presentation informed the Ways and Means Committee’s upcoming budget deliberations.