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U.S. EPA Hosts Enforcement Conference in Honolulu and Opens New Pacific Rim Resource Center

Release Date: 3/3/2003
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi (808) 541-2711

                                                   
      U.S. EPA Hosts Enforcement Conference in Honolulu and Opens New Pacific Rim Resource Center

     HONOLULU   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training is hosting a four-day conference in Honolulu for state, county and Pacific Island environmental enforcement officials centered around environmental crimes and security infrastructure.

     The conference will also mark the opening of the Hawaii-based EPA Pacific Rim Environmental Resource Center.

     "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is committed to providing a clean and safe environment for the residents of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands," said Phyllis Harris, Deputy Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "We are working closely with state and local governments in our protection efforts. The establishment of the Pacific Rim Environmental Resource Center is an example of our commitment to this region. The Center will provide specialized training and many other EPA resources to assist Hawaii and the Pacific Islands in their efforts to protect environmental resources."

     Speakers at the conference include Harris; Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator of the EPA's Pacific Southwest Region; Emmett Dashiell, Deputy Director of the EPA's Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics and Training; and Fred Burnside, the EPA's Special Agent-In-Charge of the new Pacific Rim Environmental Resource Center.

     The goal of the conference will be to provide a forum for discussion and exchange of information among the participants to assess the long-term environmental enforcement needs of the Pacific region.
         
     EPA criminal enforcement staff from across the country will be conducting workshops on:
          background material on EPA resources available to the islands,
          an introduction to environmental criminal enforcement,
          examples of successful environmental criminal cases in the Pacific Rim region,
          coordination among federal, state and local agencies, and the EPA's Homeland Security program.

     The U.S. Attorney's Office in Hawai'i, the U.S. Coast Guard and other U.S. Department of Homeland Security agencies are also lending their expertise in investigating and prosecuting cases of environmental crimes.

     "Enforcement of environmental regulations is an extremely important part of the EPA's mission," said Regional Administrator Nastri. "The addition of our Pacific Rim Environmental Resource Center in this endeavor - not only for enforcement, but also to foster cooperative efforts between our state and local partners - will help all levels of government in our shared goals of environmental and public health protection."
     
     The opening of the EPA's Pacific Rim Environmental Resource Center is only one of the highlights of the conference. The center, based in Honolulu, will provide support to the state, U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific Rim region and Pacific Rim countries by developing important relationships with their environmental agencies.

    The resource center will provide training, resources, guidance and criminal enforcement expertise to the U.S. territories and possessions and to Pacific Rim countries as well providing expertise to assess the severity of environmental problems and strategic environmental security issues in the region. The center will also help develop a network to exchange essential environmental enforcement and security information among all participating agencies and countries.

     "Protecting our natural environment should be a priority for everyone. We all depend on clean water, air and land for survival and to maintain the high quality of life we enjoy," said Special Agent-in-Charge Burnside. "The EPA has established the Resource Center in Honolulu to provide support to Hawaii and the Pacific Islands in their effort to protect human health and the environment."
                                             
     The conference runs through Thursday and attendance is limited to state, county and Pacific Island environmental enforcement officials.