DPNR warns staffing gaps and flat federal grants hamper enforcement and library operations

Commissioner Jean Pierre Oriole, commissioner for the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, told the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture on March 10 that the department is running well below the workforce it needs to execute its duties. “We currently have 158 individuals working within the department. However, we need to be around 200 employees to achieve full efficiency,” Oriole said, laying out recruitment challenges and funding constraints.

The department reported just over $49,000,000 in federal awards for fiscal 2025 but said only about $18,000,000 of that is available for operations; the remainder is pass‑through funding to utilities. Oriole said roughly $4,000,000 in previously awarded grants has been paused by one grantor agency and that delays or staffing changes in federal grant offices have slowed reimbursements. “We are not in danger of losing any funding due to noncompliance,” he said, but added that the pause has delayed hiring for at least one position and slowed project starts.

Why this matters: DPNR is the territory’s primary regulator for coastal zone activities, water and air quality, historic preservation and permitting. The committee's oversight hearing focused on enforcement capacity, rule updates and the practical effects of stagnant federal grant levels in a high cost territory.

Regulatory and enforcement limits Oriole told senators the department’s zoning penalties are decades out of date and limit effective enforcement. He gave an example: a zoning violation penalty is currently $75 and requires the Attorney General’s office to prosecute after two notices of noncompliance — a process he called “extremely ineffective.” DPNR plans to propose statutory updates to allow administrative enforcement and higher fines in certain programs. For coastal and earth‑change work Oriole said the department’s rule‑of‑thumb penalties will be revised upward; he described current Division of Coastal Zone Management language that sets a maximum of $10,000 per day but said some air/water rules under consideration would allow penalties up to $50,000 per day.

Permitting, digitization and project loads DPNR reported heavy permit volumes: the Permits Division processed 3,097 applications in FY24 across multiple trades (building, electrical, plumbing and others); CZM handled 143 new minor permit applications and 8 major permits; the State Historic Preservation Office processed 160 applications territory‑wide. The department launched an electronic application portal in September; Oriole said the portal has reduced in‑office traffic and allows applicants to upload drawings and track status online. He said plan review capacity is still constrained — in some districts a single plan reviewer handles large caseloads — which contributes to multi‑week turnaround times.

Libraries, archives and museums at risk from staffing shortfalls Oriole emphasized that almost half of DPNR’s general fund allotment supports libraries, archives and museums. He said Turnbull Library will be severely understaffed when it reopens: “The Turnbull facility… is a 40,000 square foot building. I would say … we’re gonna need at least 7 individuals. And right now, we have 4 staff,” he said, noting the facility ideally would need 13 employees for full weekday/evening service. Oriole said the fiscal 2025 general‑fund allocation forced the department to defer staff hires and that vacancy gaps are the main reason federal awards appear stagnant.

Shoreline, coastal vulnerability and beach monitoring The department described territory‑wide coastal vulnerability mapping that identifies shoreline vulnerability to inundation, storm surge and erosion. Oriole said the agency conducts weekly beach water‑quality sampling at 33 sites and issues advisories each Friday. He described continuing challenges balancing private property rights with public shoreline access under the Open Shoreline Act, and stressed the need for public education on how access rules actually work.

Comprehensive land and water use plan and next steps Oriole thanked the 30th Fifth Legislature for approving the comprehensive land and water use plan in December 2024 and said the plan outlines items that will require legislative action to implement. He said the agency has started to identify the specific code changes needed and intends to seek funding for implementation work, including a requested $5,000,000 application for planning and implementation support through CDBG‑MIT funds administered by VIHFA. When asked about a total price tag for full implementation he said the amount depends on choices the territory makes about build‑out and public housing; he noted federal recovery and capital needs across the territory are large and could be drawn down to implement parts of the plan.

Committee follow‑ups At the meeting close the committee recorded several follow‑up requests to DPNR through the chair, including: the Turnbull Library roofing contract amount and project payment status; a vendor payment status update for DPNR; a status report and schedule on consent decrees affecting landfill closures (requested by other members in the session's second block); and a territory‑wide inventory/status update on library facilities. Commissioners and staff were asked to return with those items and to meet again with relevant committees on budget and implementation.

What’s next: The committee signaled it will continue oversight and asked DPNR to return with more precise dollar figures, personnel‑by‑division needs, and proposed statutory language for enforcement and penalty updates. With federal grant pauses and persistent vacancy shortages, DPNR said its principal near‑term risks are slower project starts, constrained enforcement, and not being able to staff newly reopened library and archive facilities.