The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will partner to clean up Hellshire Bay Beach in Portmore St. Catherine on Saturday, September 15, 2018, in commemoration of the 33rd staging of International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICCD).

The island’s largest one-day volunteer event will be hosted under the theme "Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica." It is anticipated to rival the 2017 UDC/NEPA clean-up, which saw a record number of volunteers totalling 1089 persons - who collected 229 bags of trash weighing 1145.1 kilograms.

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is advising the public to exercise extreme caution in areas close to swamps, rivers, gullies and other known crocodile habitats, as the animals are likely to be displaced during the heavy rains.

NEPA is urging the public to report crocodile sightings by calling the Agency at 876-754-7540 or toll-free 888-991-5005. Individuals may also call 119 or make a report to the nearest police station.

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) wishes to remind the public that under the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA), the release of any trade effluent, industrial waste, or any noxious or polluting matter into any stream or river containing fish constitutes a criminal offence. In addition, under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority-NRCA (Wastewater and Sludge) Regulation, it is illegal to discharge wastewater without a licence.

The men observed on a video killing a turtle in 9 Miles Bull Bay, in St Andrew on June 6, 2018, have been arrested and charged for breaches under the Wildlife Protection Act. The arrest was made during a recent joint police operation, conducted by officials from the Counter Terrorism & Organized Crime Investigation's (C-TOC), the Mobile Reserve and the Motorized Patrol Division in the parish. The men have been granted bail with surety in the sum of $100,000 and are scheduled to appear in the Half Way Tree Parish Court on August 22, 2018.

At a meeting convened yesterday (Thursday, March 8, 2018) at The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to develop a plan of action and intervention strategies to respond to the challenges of illicit burning in the Riverton and surrounding communities, the Honourable Daryl Vaz, Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Land, The Environment, Climate Change and Investment, called for a zero tolerance approach to address the open burning activities taking place in the communities. “The time for action is now… the time for talk has passed,” the Minister said emphatically.