By: L.N. Reklai
March 1, 2017 (Koror, Palau) President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. signed an Executive Order 392 adopting Palau UXO Policy and UXO Action Plan 2017-2019 yesterday, March 1, 2017.
According to the Executive Order, the Palau UXO Policy and UXO Action Plans creates a national coordination and data collection mechanism for Palau UXO Advisory Committee to establish UXO Action Standards to govern removal and disposal of unexploded ordnance in Palau.
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Previous Executive Order 335 created the Palau UXO Advisory Committee to recommend steps toward creating UXO Action Standards and to create Palau UXO Standards.
This EO 392 adds on to that earlier Executive Order by tasking the Minister of State to sign the Palau UXO Policy and UXO Action Plans and for the Palau UXO Advisory Committee to use them “to implement the necessary national and state government coordination and data collection mechanisms to establish and implement the Palau UXO Action Standards.
Under the UXO Policy, Palau UXO Advisory Committee with representation from all the Ministries and State governments and Environmental Quality Protection Board, headed by the Ministry of State who is the UXO Focal Point for the Government will be coordinating various agencies within the government and assign responsibilities to relevant agencies.
The National Safety Office within the Bureau of Public Works under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Commerce and Industry is designated by the UXO Focal Point some aspects of the work including maintaining data base, coordinating UXO work and developing UXO standards.
Furthermore, the Committee creates a UXO Technical Working Group to assist the Committee with technical aspects of the work. Members of TWG are from working level of each ministry or agency.
Finally, Palau UXO Policy states that the UXO Advisory Committee will “determine rules and regulations for the quality and standard of work to be performed …and these rules and regulations are to be called the “Palau UXO Standards.” [/restrict]