Aug. 15, 2001– The Turnbull administration and the V.I. Port Authority have signed an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the Anguilla Landfill on St. Croix.
A history of violations of federal solid-waste requirements at the landfill has created problems that EPA believes may pose an "imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment," said EPA spokeswoman Nina Habib Spencer in a release Wednesday. By signing what is technically called a consent order, the local government and the Port Authority have pledged to make improvements to the landfill to reduce any risks.
Over the years, EPA inspections and information obtained by the agency revealed that practices taking place at Anguilla Landfill violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the law that regulates hazardous and solid waste.
In 1993, the V.I. government applied to the EPA for approval of a solid-waste program. According to the EPA, the territory was then advised that to receive full approval, it would have to have regulations comparable to or stricter than federal guidelines in place by May 1996. The EPA also called for the local government to commit staff and financial resources to operate the Anguilla Landfill and the Bovoni Landfill on St. Thomas in accordance with federal standards.
It took seven years for the Planning and Natural Resources Department to submit an acceptable plan. Meanwhile, because of the threat to human health and the environment, the EPA in April of 2000 ordered the cleanup of the Bovoni Landfill. Issued with the consent of the local government, the action was one step short of the agency taking unilateral action to force compliance.
The agreement on the Anguilla Landfill occurred under similar circumstances. Such orders can either be agreed to consensually by EPA and the entity that would perform the work, as is the case of Anguilla Landfill, or may be issued unilaterally by EPA, Spencer said.
What must be done
The work required under the proposed Anguilla Landfill order focuses on the following:
– A large used-tire pile in a part of the landfill that is inaccessible to emergency vehicles.
– The lack of inspection of incoming waste to make sure hazardous wastes, which are not permitted in the landfill, are not being deposited.
– The lack of groundwater monitoring under and around the landfill.
– The inadequacy of the fencing around the facility, which does little to prevent unauthorized access or the illegal disposal of hazardous waste.
– The presence of surface fires and long-burning underground fires.
Despite the longstanding problems, William Muszynski, EPA’s acting regional administrator, said the agency is "very pleased that the government of the Virgin Islands and the Port Authority have agreed that the Anguilla Landfill is in need of immediate improvement. EPA has the highest expectations that these two entities, working together, will bring about changes in the day-to-day management of the landfill that are so desperately required to protect Virgin Islanders and the ecosystems they depend on."
The timeline
As part of the consent agreement, the V.I Department of Public Works must continue to:
– Put at least six inches of cover on top of working areas of the landfill at the end of each operating day in order to control litter, scavenging and the spread of disease.
– Put procedures in place to prevent hazardous waste from being disposed of at the landfill, including conducting random inspections of incoming waste and training personnel.
– Within 45 days, the Port Authority must submit for EPA's approval the specifications for a high-grade chain-link fence at least 10 feet high, around the landfill to secure it against unauthorized entry. The new fence must be installed and the existing fencing repaired within 150 days.
– Within 180 days the Port Authority must build an observation deck or other structure that allows for visual inspection of incoming truckloads of waste. The Port Authority will submit a drawing and list of specifications for the structure for EPA's review prior to building it.
– Within the next year, DPW must submit a plan and schedule to EPA for managing scrap tires in a way that will reduce the potential for fire. The tires in the existing pile will be relocated inside or outside the landfill to an appropriate location. DPW will also make plans for the future proper disposal of tires that include measures to reduce the threat of fire and control vermin, mosquitoes and other insects. EPA will review the plan.
– The Port Authority and DPW will submit a financial plan to EPA estimating the costs of the projects detailed in the order and identifying funding sources.
– DPW must submit to EPA a plan to investigate the presence of subsurface fires. EPA will review the plan and make any necessary revisions before it is implemented. If the investigation indicates the presence of such fires, within 60 days, DPW will adopt a plan to extinguish them.
– DPW will submit a plan and timetable to EPA for bringing the landfill into full compliance with all federal solid-waste regulations. The plan must include measures to collect leachate (rainwater that trickles through the waste) and to monitor the groundwater to make certain it is not being negatively impacted by chemicals from the landfill. EPA will review the plan and may make modifications before it is put into effect.
"We recognize some of these goals will take a while to plan out," Spencer said in a phone interview from New York. "For example, the tire issue is one that is going to take the government some time to figure out what it is going to do."
The airport question
The Federal Aviation Administration, meanwhile, has identified the landfill as a hazard to planes leaving from and arriving at the adjacent Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, due to the presence of scavenging birds. The Turnbull administration is under pressure from the FAA to close the landfill by the end of 2002 or have it deemed unsafe, a move that would essentially close the facility down.
The Turnbull administration has yet to choose an alternative site for the landfill. At the end of May, Kent Bernier, Turnbull’s economic policy advisor who is working to develop the territory's waste management strategy and put together a plan for financing it, said the ideal solution would be to site the landfill where it will achieve two purposes: satisfy the FAA's concerns and at the same time position a garbage transfer site to accommodate eventual disposal by methods acceptable to the EPA.
In a May 30 article, Bernier told The Source he believes such a site can be identified by the end of summer. "Within 90 days we'll have an answer on the permanent solution, we are still in negotiations," he said.
Bernier said the government wants to make certain that the proposal is in full federal compliance before it is presented to the public.
Meanwhile, a public meeting to discuss Wednesday's order between the EPA, Port Authority and the Turnbull administration will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Aug. 22 at the V.I. Department of Education Curriculum Center in Kingshill. Members of the public may examine the proposed order at the DPW offices in Anna's Hope, and may submit written comments to EPA. The agency will evaluate all comments and will modify the order if necessary.
Comments must be postmarked by September 15, 2001, and may be mailed or faxed to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Philip Flax, RCRA Compliance Branch, 290 Broadway, 22nd Floor. New York, New York 10007-1866 (Phone (212)637-4143, Fax (212) 637-4949.)

Aug. 15, 2001 – "Faith," a short digital movie produced by young people enrolled in the Reichhold Center for the Arts Youth Moviemaking Workshop this summer, will be telecast Wednesday night on the "Face to Face with Addie Ottley" show. The program airs on WTJX-TV at 8 p.m.
The 10-minute dramatic movie, written and directed by Richard Sturdivant, a University of Tampa (Fla.) communications major, was shot and edited entirely by participants in the Youth Moviemaking Workshop.
In addition to Sturdivant, workshop participants include Rachel Navarro, Richard Simmonds, Favinn Maynard and Syieda Potter. Reichhold director David Edgecombe, Gerda Morales and Percy Taylor appear in the production.
The workshop gave young people an opportunity to work in front of and behind the Reichhold Digital Video Institute's state-of-the-art cameras — affording them broad-based experience in "what it takes to create a movie," a University of the Virgin Islands release stated.
Financial support for the workshop was provided by the Jean T. Robertson Fund of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, Rotary Club II of St. Thomas, and the Peter Gruber Foundation.

Aug. 15, 2001 – "Faith," a short digital movie produced by young people enrolled in the Reichhold Center for the Arts Youth Moviemaking Workshop this summer, will be telecast Wednesday night on the "Face to Face with Addie Ottley" show. The program airs on WTJX-TV/Channel 12 at 8 p.m.
The 10-minute dramatic movie, written and directed by Richard Sturdivant, a University of Tampa (Fla.) communications major, was shot and edited entirely by participants in the Youth Moviemaking Workshop.
In addition to Sturdivant, workshop participants include Rachel Navarro, Richard Simmonds, Favinn Maynard and Syieda Potter. Reichhold director David Edgecombe, Gerda Morales and Percy Taylor appear in the production.
The workshop gave young people an opportunity to work in front of and behind the Reichhold Digital Video Institute's state-of-the-art cameras — affording them broad-based experience in "what it takes to create a movie," a University of the Virgin Islands release stated.
Financial support for the workshop was provided by the Jean T. Robertson Fund of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, Rotary Club II of St. Thomas, and the Peter Gruber Foundation.

Aug. 15, 2001 – For the third year in a row, fit folks from across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico will head to St. John on Sept. 3, Labor Day, for the Love City Triathlon.
"They've all been training hard," committee member Kathie McMurtrie said.
The event starts with a half-mile swim at Maho Bay. Next comes a 14-mile bicycle ride from there along the North Shore Road to Cruz Bay and then along Centerline Road to Coral Bay. It concludes with a four-mile run in Coral Bay. Participants can complete individually or as a relay team.
Last year, the event attracted 32 entries. Maho Bay Camps controller Louise DePuy of St. John won the woman's division with a time of 1:55:27. First place in the men's division went to St. Thomas bicycle guide Andy Mohr, who clocked 1:46:21 for the course.
DePuy, who is the race director, is expected to be a strong contender for the top women's spot again. McMurtrie said DePuy's competition will come from St. Croix resident Theresa Harper and St. John resident Jude Woodcock. Woodcock was knocked out of the running last year when her bicycle tire went flat near Hawksnest Bay and she didn't have a spare.
Mohr no longer lives on St. Thomas, and who will take the top men's spot this year is anybody's guess. McMurtrie is betting that Woodcock's husband, Jeff Miller, and Harper's husband, John Harper, will be top contenders. "But then, there's new faces, some unknowns," she said. "The men will be a mystery."
DePuy predicted that St. Croix resident Bob Halk will be the first man out of the water. "He's a strong swimmer, but he's never ridden a bike here before," she said. She expects St. John resident Adam Thill to give everyone a run for their money. Thill is in top shape and just returned from a triathlon in Chicago. "He lives here, and he knows the hills," DePuy said. "Adam is also the fastest male runner."
Triathlon participants are entitled to a free stay at Maho Bay Camps the night before the race. For those wanting to make a weekend of it, extra nights run $37.50 for two people sleeping in a tent-cabin. DePuy said the free night and locals rate make it affordable for non-St. John residents to participate in the event. And having all the participants on island from the night before allows the committee to start the race during the coolest part of the day, rather than waiting for people to arrive on ferries from St. Thomas.
Registration forms are available at Goodbodies in The Marketplace on St. John, Endurance Sports on St. Croix and Going Seanile on St. Thomas. The sign-up fee is $25 through Aug. 27 and $35 after that. The deadline to registration is Sept. 2; there will be no registration the morning of the event.
To learn more, register and/or make reservations at Maho Bay Camps, call DePuy at 776-6240, ext. 211, or e-mail her at louise@maho.org.

Aug. 15, 2001 – Whether you rely on cistern water or potable water, you may have reason to worry about whether it's safe to use. One way to learn a lot about the topic is to take part in one of the free water quality workshops being held by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.
"It's a health issue," Julie Wright, CES water quality program supervisor, said. She said it is especially important to keep tabs on water quality during hurricane season to check for possible contamination.
Participants will learn what contaminates drinking water, how to maintain cistern water quality, when and how to test drinking water, how to treat water, how to choose a water filter and how to understand test reports.
The first 50 people who register for a workshop will receive free home testing kits to determine the bacteria and lead content of water. "Lead is an issue, especially in older homes," Wright said.
The first workshop is on St. Croix, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21, in Room 133 of the UVI Research and Extension Center.
The St. Thomas workshop is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23, at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center in the second-floor conference room.
The St. John workshop is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28, at the Cooperative Extension Service office located upstairs from the Fashion Palace (in the old Joe's Discount building).
To register for any of them, call Wright at 693-1082 or Dale Morton at 693-1086.

Aug. 15, 2001 – Whether you rely on cistern water or potable water, you may worry about whether it's safe to use. One way to learn a lot about the topic is to take part in one of the free water quality workshops being held by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.
"It's a health issue," Julie Wright, CES water quality program supervisor, said. She said it is especially important to keep tabs on water quality during hurricane season to check for possible contamination.
Participants will learn what contaminates drinking water, how to maintain cistern water quality, when and how to test drinking water, how to treat water, how to choose a water filter and how to understand test reports.
The first 50 people who register for a workshop will receive free home testing kits to determine the bacteria and lead content of water. "Lead is an issue, especially in older homes," Wright said.
The first workshop is on St. Croix, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21, in Room 133 of the UVI Research and Extension Center.
The St. Thomas workshop is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23, at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center in the second-floor conference room.
The St. John workshop is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28, at the Cooperative Extension Service office located upstairs from the Fashion Palace (in the old Joe's Discount building).
To register for any of them, call Wright at 693-1082 or Dale Morton at 693-1086.

Aug. 15, 2001 – Whether you rely on cistern water or potable water, you may have reason to worry about whether it's safe to use. One way to learn a lot about the topic is to take part in one of the free water quality workshops being held by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.
"It's a health issue," Julie Wright, CES water quality program supervisor, said. She said it is especially important to keep tabs on water quality during hurricane season to check for possible contamination.
Participants will learn what contaminates drinking water, how to maintain cistern water quality, when and how to test drinking water, how to treat water, how to choose a water filter and how to understand test reports.
The first 50 people who register for a workshop will receive free home testing kits to determine the bacteria and lead content of water. "Lead is an issue, especially in older homes," Wright said.
The first workshop is on St. Croix, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21, in Room 133 of the UVI Research and Extension Center.
The St. Thomas workshop is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23, at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center in the second-floor conference room.
The St. John workshop is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28, at the Cooperative Extension Service office located upstairs from the Fashion Palace (in the old Joe's Discount building).
To register for any of them, call Wright at 693-1082 or Dale Morton at 693-1086.

Aug. 15, 2001 – Accountants work morning, noon and night each year as the April 15 income tax deadline nears. Santa's on the job all night on Christmas Eve. Many would say both have a lot in common with the Senate Finance Committee, whose members are about to move into 12-hour-and-more workdays to get a government budget approved by the Oct. 1 start of Fiscal Year 2002.
The committee is to begin 10 days of executive branch budget hearings on Aug. 22 that will take it through Sept. 6 with days off only for weekends, including Labor Day. A summary of the schedule follows.
For a complete schedule, see the "Legislative calendar".
Wednesday, Aug. 22 — St. Thomas
Morning: overview from the Office of Management and Budget, Finance Department, Internal Revenue Bureau, Economic Research Bureau and Tax Assessor's Office.
Afternoon: government special funds status report.
Evening: Insurance Fund status report.
Thursday, Aug. 23 — St. Thomas
Morning: Public Finance Authority / West Indian Co., Capital Improvement Program
Afternoon: Port Authority, Water and Power Authority
Evening: Legal Services, Commissions on Law Revision and Uniform State Laws
Friday, Aug. 24 — St. Thomas
Morning: Indirect Cost Fund, "Miscellaneous" budget section
Afternoon: Internal Revenue Bureau, Finance Department, V.I. Lottery
Evening: Tourism Department, V.I. Hospitality Institute and Cultural Heritage Foundation
Monday, Aug. 27 — St. Croix
Morning: V.I. Elections System
Afternoon: Labor and Agriculture Departments
Evening: Human Services Department, V.I. Horse Racing Commission
Tuesday, Wed. 28 — St. Croix
Morning: Justice Department
Afternoon: Health and Licensing and Consumer Affairs Departments
Evening: Police Department, V.I. Fire Services
Wednesday, Aug. 29 — St. Croix
Morning: Economic Research Bureau
Afternoon: Personnel Division
Evening: Government Employees Retirement System
Thursday, Aug. 30 — St. Croix
Morning: Public Works Department
Afternoon: Planning and Natural Resources, Veterans Affairs Office, Adjutant General's Office, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency
Evening: Education Department
Friday, Aug. 31 — St. Croix
Morning: Housing, Parks and Recreation Department, V.I. Housing Finance Authority
Tuesday, Sept. 4 — St. Croix
Morning; Property and Procurement Department
Thursday, Sept. 6 — St. Croix
All day: budget review and revenue update

Aug. 15, 2001 – Accountants work morning, noon and night each year as the April 15 income tax deadline nears. Santa's on the job all night on Christmas Eve. Many would say both have a lot in common with the Senate Finance Committee, whose members are about to move into 12-hour-and-more workdays to get a government budget approved by the Oct. 1 start of Fiscal Year 2002.
The committee is to begin 10 days of executive branch budget hearings on Aug. 22 that will take it through Sept. 6 with days off only for weekends, including Labor Day. A summary of the schedule follows.
For a complete schedule, see the "Legislative calendar".
Wednesday, Aug. 22 — St. Thomas
Morning: overview from the Office of Management and Budget, Finance Department, Internal Revenue Bureau, Economic Research Bureau and Tax Assessor's Office.
Afternoon: government special funds status report.
Evening: Insurance Fund status report.
Thursday, Aug. 23 — St. Thomas
Morning: Public Finance Authority / West Indian Co., Capital Improvement Program
Afternoon: Port Authority, Water and Power Authority
Evening: Legal Services, Commissions on Law Revision and Uniform State Laws
Friday, Aug. 24 — St. Thomas
Morning: Indirect Cost Fund, "Miscellaneous" budget section
Afternoon: Internal Revenue Bureau, Finance Department, V.I. Lottery
Evening: Tourism Department, V.I. Hospitality Institute and Cultural Heritage Foundation
Monday, Aug. 27 — St. Croix
Morning: V.I. Elections System
Afternoon: Labor and Agriculture Departments
Evening: Human Services Department, V.I. Horse Racing Commission
Tuesday, Wed. 28 — St. Croix
Morning: Justice Department
Afternoon: Health and Licensing and Consumer Affairs Departments
Evening: Police Department, V.I. Fire Services
Wednesday, Aug. 29 — St. Croix
Morning: Economic Research Bureau
Afternoon: Personnel Division
Evening: Government Employees Retirement System
Thursday, Aug. 30 — St. Croix
Morning: Public Works Department
Afternoon: Planning and Natural Resources, Veterans Affairs Office, Adjutant General's Office, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency
Evening: Education Department
Friday, Aug. 31 — St. Croix
Morning: Housing, Parks and Recreation Department, V.I. Housing Finance Authority
Tuesday, Sept. 4 — St. Croix
Morning; Property and Procurement Department
Thursday, Sept. 6 — St. Croix
All day: budget review and revenue update

Aug. 15, 2001 – Accountants work morning, noon and night each year as the April 15 income tax deadline nears. Santa's on the job all night on Christmas Eve. Many would say both have a lot in common with the Senate Finance Committee, whose members are about to move into 12-hour-and-more workdays to get a government budget approved by the Oct. 1 start of Fiscal Year 2002.
The committee is to begin 10 days of executive branch budget hearings on Aug. 22 that will take it through Sept. 6 with days off only for weekends, including Labor Day. A summary of the schedule follows.
For a complete schedule, see the "Legislative calendar".
Wednesday, Aug. 22 — St. Thomas
Morning: overview from the Office of Management and Budget, Finance Department, Internal Revenue Bureau, Economic Research Bureau and Tax Assessor's Office.
Afternoon: government special funds status report.
Evening: Insurance Fund status report.
Thursday, Aug. 23 — St. Thomas
Morning: Public Finance Authority / West Indian Co., Capital Improvement Program
Afternoon: Port Authority, Water and Power Authority
Evening: Legal Services, Commissions on Law Revision and Uniform State Laws
Friday, Aug. 24 — St. Thomas
Morning: Indirect Cost Fund, "Miscellaneous" budget section
Afternoon: Internal Revenue Bureau, Finance Department, V.I. Lottery
Evening: Tourism Department, V.I. Hospitality Institute and Cultural Heritage Foundation
Monday, Aug. 27 — St. Croix
Morning: V.I. Elections System
Afternoon: Labor and Agriculture Departments
Evening: Human Services Department, V.I. Horse Racing Commission
Tuesday, Wed. 28 — St. Croix
Morning: Justice Department
Afternoon: Health and Licensing and Consumer Affairs Departments
Evening: Police Department, V.I. Fire Services
Wednesday, Aug. 29 — St. Croix
Morning: Economic Research Bureau
Afternoon: Personnel Division
Evening: Government Employees Retirement System
Thursday, Aug. 30 — St. Croix
Morning: Public Works Department
Afternoon: Planning and Natural Resources, Veterans Affairs Office, Adjutant General's Office, V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency
Evening: Education Department
Friday, Aug. 31 — St. Croix
Morning: Housing, Parks and Recreation Department, V.I. Housing Finance Authority
Tuesday, Sept. 4 — St. Croix
Morning; Property and Procurement Department
Thursday, Sept. 6 — St. Croix
All day: budget review and revenue update