(a) The Commissioner of Public Works shall—
(1) participate in the planning of, supervise the construction of, and repair and maintain, all government buildings and grounds, public roads, highways, seawalls, wharves, seaways, public recreation areas, airports, and properties of like character;
(2) repair and maintain other government-owned public utilities, and recommend methods for their maintenance;
(3) provide engineering and land survey services;
(4) plan for public works;
(5) cooperate with the Federal Government in the planning for, and in the construction, repair, and maintenance of, any government buildings and grounds, public roads, highways, harbors, seawalls, wharves, seaways, public recreation areas, public housing projects, airports and properties of like character; perform all functions and exercise all authority as required by Federal law in the construction, repair and maintenance of such Federally aided projects; expend all funds made available by the Federal Government for such purposes; and prepare and submit reports with respect to such activities as required by Federal law; and
(6) comply, and require all employees, agents, contractors and subcontractors of the Department to comply with all territorial and federal environmental and land use laws, rules and regulations, including pollution control permits and mitigation measures, earth change permits, and the coastal zone permit, when planning and engaging in the construction, maintenance and repair of government buildings, public roads, highways, sea walls, wharves, sea ways, public utilities, public recreational facilities, airports and all other public projects and capital improvements.
(b) To the extent practicable, the Commissioner of Public Works shall use a prison inmate workforce for all roadwork, cemetery maintenance, waterways, drainage, and maintenance and repairs of government buildings. The prison inmate workforce used by the Commissioner of Public Works under this subsection must consist of only misdemeanor and non-violent felon inmates and inmates whose remaining prison term does not exceed six months in duration.