Previous Story
Higher sanitation standards set
|
Posted on May 02 2001
Members of the House of Representatives yesterday lauded efforts by the Tenorio Administration to protect the environment by signing into law a proposal that will update the Commonwealth’s health and sanitation regulations.
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio last week paved the road for the implementation of the Commonwealth Environmental Health and Sanitation Act of 2000.
Rep. David Apatang said the new law, previously known as HB 12-57, allows the administration and the legislature to step up environmental programs that will ensure a healthy, safe and clean community.
In signing the new law, Mr. Tenorio underscored the need to update the antiquated health and sanitation law which dates back to the Trust Territory years.
The newly-signed Public Law 12-48 enables the Department of Public Health and other directly-involved government agencies to better protect the environment and ensure that sanitation standards are strictly followed.
Under PL 12-48, the health secretary shall regulate activities and physical premises for the sanitary operations of establishments such as crematoriums, cemeteries, food service, beauty shops, beverage bottling plants, tattoo or body piercing shops, massage parlors, health clinics, penal institutions, hotels, vector control of aircraft, ships, water parks among others.
The law also allows DPH and other agencies to conduct inspection to uncover adverse public health conditions and nonconformance with critical control points, risks of potential hazards unique to the specific type of business conducted, and to investigate complaints concerning sanitary conditions that may present unacceptable health risks.
