V.I. Senators took representatives from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources to task Tuesday over a lack of communication with the Department of Health concerning environmental accidents.
DPNR officials, along with representatives for the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef hotel, went before members of the Committee on Planning and Environmental Protection to discuss the hotel’s release of pollutants into local waters. The releases happened twice in 2009 and once this year on May 27.
Sen. Sammuel Sanes wanted to know if either group had any rules established on when to alert the Department of Health when potentially harmful pollutants have been released into local waters.
“You do not have a procedure to notify the Department of Health, and DPNR does not have a procedure to notify the Department of Health,” he told hotel general manager Jose Gonzalez Espinosa.
“The reason why we’re here is not to stand on our soapbox and preach. We have to come up with solutions,” said Sanes.
Sen. Nereida “Nellie” Rivera-O’Reilly said that elderly people swim in local waters, as do children and pregnant women. “And no one closed the beach,” she said. “How responsible is that?”
DPNR Commissioner Robert Mathes said he would change the DPNR’s rules effective tomorrow – mandating that when high levels of bacteria are found in local waters, the Department of Health must be notified.
Espinosa also told senators that lawyers for his company are in talks with the DPNR over what punishment they will incur for the releases.
He said his company has taken steps since the incidents to make sure the wastewater they release is as clean as it can possibly be – noting that a more sophisticated water treatment process has been operational since July 28 – ahead of its September installation date.
“It’s in the process of being resolved,” said Mathes. He said the Marriott as been “very responsive and responsible.”
Marriott lawyer Hank Feuerzeig said the new treatment system was “working fabulously,” with tests as recent as August 6 showing extremely low levels of bacteria, called fecal coliform, in the water – sometimes none at all.
Senators also heard from members of the public concerned about exhaust released from the V.I. Water and Power Authority’s smoke stacks located near Lindbergh Bay.
Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone said such a hearing had already been held on St. Croix, and this was St. Thomas’ turn.
“This is an ongoing problem for a few years,” he said.
Lorette Resch, who owns the Island Beachcomber Hotel, said that guests can’t help but notice the fine black powder that the stacks give off, as well as the noise and smoke.
“You don’t want to lie, but it’s hard to cover,” she said.
WAPA’s Chief Operating Officer Gregory Rhymer appeared on behalf of Executive Director Hugo Hodge Jr. Rhymer said that there was “an unfortunate emission occurrence” at WAPA’s St. Thomas facility on July 8, but on the whole, WAPA is operating up to Federal standards.
Rhymer said that it is occasionally possible to see black smoke coming from the stacks for very short periods of time as part of routine maintentance, or to start up or shut down the machinery. However, he said even then, the emissions are in compliance with emission standards and necessary for operation.
Malone said that if WAPA would take steps to let the public know the organization is being more proactive in looking for alternate energy sources and ways to reduce energy costs – it might make the public feel more comfortable and have more confidence in officials.
Senators asked DPNR official Nadine Noorhasan whether DPNR had heard of such complaints as the ones heard Tuesday before, and she said no.
