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2006 DPNR-DEP
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For the most up-to-date list of DPNR Press
Releases |
DPNR-Division of Environmental Protection
FY 2005 Major Accomplishments
The Division of Environmental Protection successfully applied new federal funding (total $249,423) for various projects to be implemented in FY 2006.
The Division submitted a successful proposal for $54,400 to perform a waste stream analysis for used cooking oil and grease that is currently being generated within the Territory. A biofuel generation potential will be determined based on the waste stream analysis. Potential facility sites will be identified. An engineering design for: the collection of used cooking oils; processing of used cooking oils to produce biodiesel; and storage and distribution of biodiesel for use within the government vehicle fleet will be submitted as the final deliverables for this project.
The Pesticides Control Program received $25,000 in Discretionary Funds from the U.S. EPA to perform pesticide enforcement and training.
The Division published the first Virgin Islands State of the Environment Report. This report highlights the natural resources in the territory, their condition, and the regulatory programs in place that are designed to protect them. The accumulation of this environmental information helps us to identify facts and trends, which are required to effectively measure impact on our natural resources. It is also a means to better inform the public of the status of our environmental condition. While everyone expects clean air, clean water and unpolluted green spaces, we must realize that we are all part of the equation. Our regulatory agency cannot act alone. As the report illustrates, everyone including government, private sector, industry and every citizen must be a partner in environmental protection. Studies have shown that our health is closely linked to the health of the environment. Whatever impacts our environment will eventually impact us.
The Division of Environmental Protection continues to grow and become more efficient as we respond to emerging environmental pressures. In the area of Solid Waste, the department has implemented three new permitting programs to adequately address the disposal of special waste in the territory. These new permitting programs include Medical Waste, Hazardous Waste Storage and Waste Tires. These special wastes cannot be accepted or processed at our Waste Disposal Sites. To assure that proper disposal is adhered to entities must be permitted. A part of being permitted includes keeping accurate records and a manifest of disposal.
In-house, at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, we have started a recycling program. The items being recycled are ink jet cartridges and old cell phones. The funds redeemed from this initiative will benefit our public libraries. Besides being a commendable way to raise funds for the local libraries, the inkjet and cell phone recycling effort is another great way to conserve resources and protect the environment by keeping recyclable items out of our landfills. While the department’s recycling effort will not solve the entire recycling issue, every effort counts. Every division of his department has now been charged with the duty of recycling the inkjet cartridges used in house. And we encourage other government agencies to be a part of the effort.
The concept of reuse is being applied in a new way. That is through a national program known as the Brownfields program. The new Virgin Islands Brownfields Program places emphasis on the revitalization of abandoned commercial and industrial sites, which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The goal is to take these properties and change them from a community liability into a community asset. Across the nation, cleaning up and reinvesting in Brownfields sites increases the local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure and takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land. Through the program, the department received a grant of $417,119 to continue development of the program in the territory. Currently, legislation for the VI Brownfield Act has been drafted and is being reviewed. Once enacted, the Virgin Islands will become eligible for grants to provide funding to capitalize loans that are used to clean up brownfields, for funding of environmental training for residents and for funding for cleanup activities at certain properties with planned greenspace, recreational, or other nonprofit uses.
While 55% of the nation’s population lives within 50 miles of the coast, here in the Virgin Islands, 100% of our population lives much closer to the coast. We are a coastal community. Our coastal waters contribute significantly to our economy and the quality of life we enjoy. Within the Water Pollution Control Program several programs focus on many different aspects of protecting water quality and public health. The Beach Program, which is a relatively new program monitors beach water quality and provides beach goers with information on beach water quality at 43 popular swimming beaches in the territory. On a weekly basis, the department issues this water quality information to the public as a strategy for reducing the risks of infection to people who use our recreational waters. The overall goals of the program are to reduce health risk to the public and identify and eliminate pollutants to local beach water. In addition to the local media, the information is available weekly on the department’s website at www.dpnr.gov.vi on the Division of Environmental Protection’s Homepage. The division receives approximately $300,000 per year to implement this program.
We are pleased to report that the Division of Environmental Protection was the first state/territory within Region 2 to submit a complete Multi-Year Monitoring Strategy. The United States Virgin Islands Multi-Year Water Quality Monitoring Strategy was approved by US EPA Region 2, resulting in the Water Pollution Control Program receiving $86,223 in increased funding to fulfill additional monitoring requirements.
In addition to the beach water quality, the department monitors coastal water quality at over 100 sites throughout the territory. This information is used to evaluate the quality our various waterbodies throughout the territory. In 1973, the coastal water quality standards were first developed and were not revised until 1985. Subsequent information concerning biological resources, the state of the coastal waters in the USVI, and new national guidelines and regulations made it necessary to review the current water quality standards. Additionally, Title 12, Chapter 7, Section 186(a) of the Virgin Islands Code requires the periodic review of the water quality standards. Pursuant to Section 303(c)(1) of the Clean Water Act, States, Tribes and Territories are required to review and, if necessary, revise their water quality standards at least once every three years. We’re pleased to report that Revised Water Quality Standards for the US Virgin Islands were promulgated in October 8, 2004 and approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency on May 26, 2005.
During the past fiscal year, the Caribbean Water Assessment Snap Shot (CarWASSH) project was conducted throughout the territory. The samples and related data collected were sent to Florida International University for analysis. The intent of the program is to establish a network of marine scientists for a long-term water quality-monitoring program for Caribbean coastal ecosystems, particularly coral reef, sea grass and mangrove dominated areas. Scientists from within the Division of Environmental Protection were instrumental in collecting data for the project.
To date, the VI Rum Treatability Study has made significant progress towards accomplishing the objectives of identifying economical and practicable preferred mitigation measures for the VI Rum discharge. In accordance with the 2002 landmark agreement between the US EPA and the VI Government, we are well on our way and on schedule to identifying the best treatment technology for the treatment of waste that results from rum production in the Virgin Islands. It is our goal to see that upon successful implementation, the environmental concerns will no longer be the limiting factor on rum production in the Virgin Islands.
The management and administration of the Earth Change Program has been fully transferred from the Division of Building Permits to the Division of Environmental Protection. The Earth Change Program is a logical fit with Environmental Protection’s Non Point Source and Stormwater programs. Effective June 1, 2005, the division implemented new permit application and review fees consistent with the international code council, international series of code, I-Codes-2003 promulgated by Act #6697 on October 27, 2004. The ICC code fee schedule is based on the amount of soil that will be graded, excavated or otherwise disturbed.
The Air Pollution Control Program began issuing invoices for the collection of annual Title V emission fees at the $50/ton rate. This rate represents an almost three-fold increase in the rate used during previous year. However, this rate has been set by rules and regulations since 1995 in Section 206-93 of the Air Pollution Control Act. These funds will now enable the program to be self-sufficient.
During the Fiscal Year 2005, the APC program issued final Title V Operating Permits to Divi Carina Bay Hotel and the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority – St. John. These represent the fifth and sixth Title V Operating Permit to be issued to a major source in the territory. With these permits being issued, there are two remaining sources awaiting Title V Operating permits, namely HOVENSA and the Roy L. Schneider Hospital.
The Air Pollution Control program applied for funding related to asbestos hazards in the Virgin Islands. The federal AHERA and NESHAPS programs will be implemented throughout 88 schools territory-wide. A total of $67,100 in supplemental funding has been allocated for these programs.
The Groundwater program now requires water quality monitoring of permitted facilities pumping greater than 5000 gallons/day. Over-pumping can cause seawater or mineralized water to be drawn into wells, which has the potential to contaminate aquifers. In addition to the water quality monitoring, the program has been mapping surface areas for groundwater recharge, identifying available areas for recharge and reassessing water budgets by watershed.
Through the Virgin Islands Drinking Water Capital Improvement Grant, the department received over $6.6 million in funding. An intended use plan has been developed to fund projects within the Small and Medium System as well as Large System categories. Projects that have been approved for capital improvements include WAPA St. Thomas/ St. Croix and St. John, The University of the Virgin Islands St. Croix and St. Thomas, the Juan Luis Hospital
DPNR applied for an additional $16,700 grant for addressing water systems security issues. This grant brings the total security grant award to $125,700. This grant will be used to improve basic security of small and medium sized public water systems, and to better prepare the Territorial government agencies to respond to potential acts of sabotage or terrorism at public water systems. In particular these funds will be used to:
Develop and improve territorial guidance for small/medium water system security;
Develop and distribute products intended to help water systems improve their basic security and emergency preparedness; and
Improve the emergency response capabilities of territorial drinking water program personnel.
The Underground Storage Tank program has adopted soil clean up criteria for UST closure and Brownfields. The program has also developed local criteria and guidance for risk-based clean up.
Information regarding financial responsibility has been provided to all UST facilities to provide UST owners with available options particularly on St. Croix were many service stations are independently owned and operated. Information was also disseminated to service stations to encourage the implementation of voluntary spill prevention measures. Significant progress has been made with regard to the tank renotification initiative, steps taken to rebuild records and databases, and writing of draft regulations to implement a comprehensive UST Program.
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