40 officers to beef up DLNR enforcement
Gov. Lingle proposes boosting the agency's budget by $9 million, half of it to add staff
The state would gain 40 new conservation officers to enforce rules protecting Hawaii's natural and cultural resources under Gov. Linda Lingle's 2007-8 budget proposal.
The governor is proposing to boost significantly the budget for the state agency responsible for protecting Hawaii's environment, parks and monuments.
The department's operating budget would increase to $102 million in fiscal year 2008, which begins July 1, and $103 million in 2009.
Last year the department asked for a record-breaking $92 million, and lawmakers approved $94 million.
Half of Lingle's proposed increase in operating funds for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources would be earmarked for hiring and equipping conservation officers, according to DLNR Director Peter Young's summary of his department's budget request.
The request also includes $144 million in one-time expenses for capital improvements ranging from $20 million to fix dams owned by the department to $4.5 million for Iolani Palace air-conditioning.
"Our motivation is compliance," Young said of the increase for conservation officers. "We don't want people to do bad things with our state's natural and cultural resources."
Time and time again, when DLNR holds meetings about new rules for fishing, boating, camping or any other of the myriad outdoor activities it oversees, people complain that the DLNR "doesn't enforce the rules it already has."
So the department plans to put more officers out on the trail, in the parks and on the water, Young said.
The DLNR budget calls for adding 20 officers and five support staff each year of the two-year budget. That would be in addition to filling any current vacancies in the authorized force of 110 officers, Young said.
The department will also arm officers with shotguns and high-powered rifles. The change is among the recommendations of a state audit of the department released this year, Young said.
The audit found the state's environmental protection officers are spread too thin, inadequately trained and lack the equipment they need to do their jobs.
New conservation officers would be equipped with cars and boats, and all officers would get upgraded equipment, Young said. They will also be cross-trained for land and water patrols, and be able to dole out tickets to violators. But Young noted that the emphasis would be on prevention.
House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell said lawmakers and the Lingle administration agree on what the problems are -- including the need to beef up enforcement -- and the solutions may be similar, but there will likely be disagreements on the finer points of the budget.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.