The newly created Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarn) will oversee the development of tourism, industrial, real estate, mining, port, and agriculture projects. The new entity will be an umbrella-type government department. Under its wing will be: Department of Natural Resources of the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Parks, National Planning Office’s Department of Environment, National Environment Protection Agency (INPRA) and the "Oficina para la Proteccion de la Corteza Terrestre" of the Ministry of Public Works. The bill recently passed by Congress in a marathonic session after 11 years sitting around, has been objected by several sectors. President of the Senate, Ramón Alburquerque said that he will wait for President-elect Hipolito Mejia to be in power on 16 August prior to sending the bill for presidential signing. He said the Congress does not want to risk a presidential veto by President Leonel Fernandez. News reports indicate that the new Minister of Environment will be historian Frank Moya Pons.
