Industry News

First 6-star Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Dorado

2010-07-29T04:07:12Z

Puerto Rico’s government announced it will help finance a $1.2 billion resort on the U.S. island’s north coast, the biggest hotel project in two years for a region hit hard by the world economic crisis.
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Dorado Beach Resort & Spa is to be the island’s first six-star resort.

“This kind of initiative represents an extraordinary advance in the renewal of tourism in Puerto Rico,” Gov. Luis Fortuno told reporters.

He pledged a $231 million loan for the resort’s first phase, which is to include 130 rooms, 20 of which will be available for purchase.

The loan is backed by the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, the Tourism Development Fund and several financial firms, including UBS Financial Services and Popular Securities.

The resort is scheduled to open in late 2012. Fortuño said it would generate more than 2,500 jobs during the construction phase and nearly 900 jobs once it opens.

The project also calls for $300 million in future expansion and $600 million for construction of a separate, 400-room hotel as well as homes and condominiums, but financing has not been secured, said Eric Christensen, CEO of Dorado Beach Resort, which is overseeing the project.
“This is the biggest hotel financing in the entire Caribbean region in the last 18 months,” said Carlos Garcia, president of the island’s development bank.

The announcement comes as Puerto Rico enters its fourth year of recession and has seen thousands of government employees laid off to offset a $3.2 billion deficit. The island is grappling with a 16.6 percent unemployment rate, higher than any U.S. state.

The investment shows developers are confident the economy will rebound, but the project will be built in stages that do not have a definite due date, said Elias Gutierrez, an economist at the University of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico sets 15% renewable electricity target for 2020

2010-07-22T02:07:03Z

By James Cartledge

Luis G Fortuno, Governor of the US territory, signed measures into law yesterday, which will also require retail energy providers to draw up plans to source 20% of their energy from renewable energy proejcts by 2028.

The Caribbean island is aiming to “aggressively” improve the 1% proportion of its energy supplies that currently come from renewable sources

The new legislation will set up a system of Renewable Energy Certificates to drive clean energy procurement – certificates that can be bought or sold alongside green energy, to offer added incentives to developers of renewable energy projects.

Incentives

The Governor also signed a law that provides a series of short, medium and long-term financial incentives to help set up a “solid” renewable energy industry in Puerto Rico.

This includes a $290 million Green Energy Fund to invest in renewable energy projects and initiatives over the next 10 years.

Cash rebates will offer up to 60% project costs for residents and 50% costs for businesses to install renewable energy systems up to 1MW in output.

And, commercial-scale renewable energy generators will be provided with tax relief for new facilities, along with tax credits if equipment is produced and jobs created locally.

Governor Fortuno said: “We need to aggressively encourage the development of renewable energy sources for the benefit of all that reside and work in Puerto Rico. Establishing the right public policy will be the anchor to make it happen.”

“Win-win”

A Renewable Energy Commission is being set up, comprising five representatives of key organizations and two members appointed by the Governor, to oversee progress.

Jose Ramon Perez-Riera, Secretary for Economic Development and Commerce, who, along with other public officials, will have a seat in the newly created Commission, said: “Renewable energy policies and sound economic incentives are key to attract players of all sizes that can contribute to the creation of a renewable energy industry in Puerto Rico, jumpstart competition and be an active part of the solution.

“This can lead to innovation-based development and new job creation, while attending concerns over high energy prices and environmental effects of petroleum-based generation emissions. It is a win-win for all,” added Secretary Perez-Riera.

Diversification

Puerto Rico has a population of almost four million, who face electricity prices twice the US average thanks to the island’s dependence on oil for about 70% of its supplies.

The Fortuno Administration is aiming to cut dependence on petroleum to 48% of electricity generation without raising the use of coal from the current 15%, and without increasing natural gas from the current 16% share of electricity supplies to more than 24%.

“Diversification of our energy sources can not wait any longer. The cost of electricity is undoubtedly the number one obstacle to Puerto Rico’s competitiveness and one of the main concerns of our people. We will be relentless in our efforts to reduce the cost of electricity for all and we are confident that our energy reform legislation will have a profound influence across the board,” said the Governor.

Last month saw Pattern Energy Group agreeing a deal to develop 75MW of wind generating capacity in Santa Isobel

Puerto Rico to help finance $1.2B Ritz- Carlton resort, Caribbean's largest in recent years

2010-07-22T09:07:44Z

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico's government announced Wednesday it will help finance a $1.2 billion resort on the U.S. island's north coast, the biggest hotel project in two years for a region hit hard by the world economic crisis.

The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Dorado Beach Resort & Spa is to be the island's first six-star resort.

"This kind of initiative represents an extraordinary advance in the renewal of tourism in Puerto Rico," Gov. Luis Fortuno told reporters.

He pledged a $231 million loan for the resort's first phase, which is to include 130 rooms, 20 of which will be available for purchase.

The loan is backed by the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, the Tourism Development Fund and several financial firms, including UBS Financial Services and Popular Securities.

The resort is scheduled to open in late 2012. Fortuno said it would generate more than 2,500 jobs during the construction phase and nearly 900 jobs once it opens.

The project also calls for $300 million in future expansion and $600 million for construction of a separate, 400-room hotel as well as homes and condominiums, but financing has not been secured, said Eric Christensen, CEO of Dorado Beach Resort, which is overseeing the project.

"This is the biggest hotel financing in the entire Caribbean region in the last 18 months," said Carlos Garcia, president of the island's development bank.

The announcement comes as Puerto Rico enters its fourth year of recession and has seen thousands of government employees laid off to offset a $3.2 billion deficit. The island is grappling with a 16.6 percent unemployment rate, higher than any U.S. state.

The investment shows developers are confident the economy will rebound, but the project will be built in stages that do not have a definite due date, said Elias Gutierrez, an economist at the University of Puerto Rico.

"I hope everything comes out as planned," he said. "In these times, any investment that Puerto Rico manages to attract is good. ... The situation we face is very serious."

While tourism is slowly rebounding on some islands, construction of resorts across the Caribbean has stalled in recent years as financial firms went bankrupt and investment capital dwindled.

Puerto Rico Aggressively Pursuing Renewable Energy

2010-07-21T03:07:54Z

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, -- In order to promote and facilitate the development of renewable energy sources in Puerto Rico, the Government of Puerto Rico is establishing and implementing a series of new policies that will create the necessary legal framework to spearhead said development.

Today, Puerto Rico's Governor, Luis G. Fortuno, signed into law several measures that clearly define Puerto Rico's public policy regarding renewable energy. The newly enacted Act for a Public Policy for Energy Diversification Through Sustainable and Alternative Renewable Energy ("Energy Diversification Act") and Green Energy Incentives Act ("Incentives Act") set specific renewable energy production goals and create economic incentives to facilitate the investments required to meet those goals.

"We need to aggressively encourage the development of renewable energy sources for the benefit of all that reside and work in Puerto Rico. Establishing the right public policy will be the anchor to make it happen," said Governor Fortuno.

Firstly, the new law establishes public policy rules to increase and diversify energy generation by requiring the purchase and sale of sustainable and alternative renewable energy. Specifically, it gives way to a Renewable Portfolio Standard ("RPS"), which will require retail energy providers in the Island to produce or purchase a specified percentage of their electricity from renewable energy sources. These portfolio standards set a hard target of 15 percent renewable energy production by 2020 and require retail energy providers to prepare a plan to reach 20 percent renewable energy production by 2028.

In addition, the measure establishes Renewable Energy Certificates ("RECs") as the main financial mechanisms to achieve these goals and validates them as legally-recognized assets that can be purchased, sold, traded, and transferred separately from electric power. It also provides for the creation of a permanent Renewable Energy Commission, comprised of five members ex officio and two named by the Governor for a four year term, one of which must come from academia.

"RECs validate the value of renewable energy over conventional methods of producing electricity and in many jurisdictions have helped incentivize the cost-effective establishment of renewable energy facilities," said Jose Ramon Perez-Riera, Secretary for Economic Development and Commerce, who, along with other public officials, will have a seat in the newly created Commission. The Department of Economic Development and Commerce is the public entity spearheading the Government's energy reform efforts.

Furthermore, the Governor signed a second law that provides a series of short, medium and long-term economic incentives to encourage the creation of a new and solid renewable energy industry. This second law creates a Green Energy Fund ("GEF"), to be established by the Department of the Treasury as a special, independently administrated fund. Through this mechanism the Government of Puerto Rico will co-invest $290 million in renewable energy projects and other initiatives over the next 10 years. The GEF initiates with a $20 million injection in 2011. Through the GEF, the Puerto Rico Energy Affairs Administration will offer cash rebates of up to 60 percent for individuals, and 50 percent for companies, on the cost of installing residential and industrial projects not exceeding 1 MW of capacity. The GEF also provides flexibility for the Government to establish new investment or incentive programs in the future.

For companies dedicated to the production of renewable energy on a commercial scale, the new Incentive Act also provides tax benefits in the form of significant partial exemptions from income taxes, property taxes, and municipal taxes; super-depreciation of buildings, structures, machinery, and equipment; and eligibility for tax-credits related to the use of locally-manufactured products, job creation, and research and development.

"Renewable energy policies and sound economic incentives are key to attract players of all sizes that can contribute to the creation of a renewable energy industry in Puerto Rico, jumpstart competition and be an active part of the solution. This can lead to innovation-based development and new job creation, while attending concerns over high energy prices and environmental effects of petroleum-based generation emissions. It is a win-win for all," added Perez-Riera.

The Fortuno Administration has a mandate of reducing the cost of energy and ensuring that electric power is affordable, reliable and sustainable for all residents. Currently, electricity prices in Puerto Rico are approximately twice the United States average. This is due in large part to the Island's current dependence on oil for approximately 70 percent of electricity production.

The Island's overall energy reform banks on the diversification of the energy generation mix. Currently, petroleum comprises 69 percent of the mix, followed by natural gas at 16 percent, coal at 15 percent and renewable sources at 1 percent. The goals forecasted by the Administration for 2015 contemplate reducing the use of petroleum to 48 percent and keeping coal use constant, while increasing the use of natural gas to 24 percent and renewable sources to 12 percent.

"Diversification of our energy sources can not wait any longer. The cost of electricity is undoubtedly the number one obstacle to Puerto Rico's competitiveness and one of the main concerns of our people. We will be relentless in our efforts to reduce the cost of electricity for all and we are confident that our energy reform legislation will have a profound influence across the board," concluded the Governor.

Already recognized renewable energy players, such as Pattern Energy Group LP, have announced plans to be part of the action. Secretary Perez-Riera confirmed that just last month one of Pattern's subsidiaries entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) for the sale of 75 megawatts (MW) of wind energy that will be produced at their proposed Pattern Santa Isabel Wind Project.

Request for Quotes for Georgetown Marriott Hotel in Guyana

2010-07-21T02:07:31Z

Atlantic Hotel, Inc., of Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana invites pre-qualification applications from contractors possessing the experience and capability to undertake the construction of a hotel and entertainment complex in Georgetown, Guyana.

After being courted by the government of Guyana for over four years, Marriott International, Inc. recently announced that it will open its first Marriott-branded hotel in Georgetown in 2013. It will operate under a management agreement with Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI), which is currently owned by the Government of Guyana as part of a public-private partnership between the Government and private sector investors.

The work include construction/erection of a 275,000 sq. ft. compound that will include: A 200,000-sq. ft., 160 room hotel facility; and a 75,000 sq. ft. entertainment complex outfitted with common service areas/amenities that will be the site for a casino, restaurant, nightclub and other unfinished spaces available for retail.

Procedure for submission of pre-qualification include: Interested persons must register with AHI and pay a registration fee of US$100 or G$20,00.

Urbahn Architects of New York will create the hotel’s state-of-the-art architectural and interior design concept.

“Guyana looks forward to a first class branded quality hotel operated by Marriott International. This public-private partnership project will transform the hospitality landscape and can be expected to encourage more travel and tourism development for our nation.

“The project will be more an integrated entertainment complex ideally located at the corner of the Atlantic Ocean and Demerara River with a casino, night club, restaurant, and boardwalk”, President Bharrat Jagdeo was quoted as saying.

“We are thrilled to partner with AHI and the Government of Guyana to open our first Marriott Hotel in the country, representing Marriott’s presence in another capital city in South America,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, chief development officer for Marriott International in the Caribbean & Latin America.

“This will also be Marriott’s first LEED- hotel in the region, and we are confident that it will play an instrumental role in the continued economic and commercial development of Guyana.”
The statement said that the 160-room Georgetown Marriott Hotel is on track to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the US Green Building Council and is on track to be Marriott’s first LEED hotel in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Another Johnson & Johnson drug plant gets flagged

2010-07-20T09:07:09Z

By Parija Kavilanz

NEW YORK -- Johnson & Johnson, already under fire from the government over deplorable conditions at a Pennsylvania plant that makes children's pain and cold drugs, is now being cited for problems at another one of its drugmaking plants in the state.

A plant located in Lancaster, Pa., was recently inspected by the Food and Drug Administration and failed to receive a clean bill of health, according to the company.

The Lancaster facility received what is called a "Form 483." A Form 483 is issued after an FDA inspection yields unsatisfactory results for compliance with regulations or a violation of good manufacturing practices.

The FDA regional office in Philadelphia did not return calls seeking details about the observations made in the report. However, Johnson & Johnson confirmed that the company has received it.

The facility is a operated by Johnson & Johnson-Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals, a joint venture of J&J (JNJ, Fortune 500) and drugmaker Merck (MRK, Fortune 500) formed to develop and market over-the-counter drugs derived from Merck's prescription medicines. The unit makes non-prescription products such as heartburn relievers Mylanta and Pepcid and multi-symptom relief drug Imodium.

"JJ/MCP takes the issues raised by the agency seriously and is fully committed to addressing their concerns as rapidly as possible," the companies said in a statement. "We will provide a detailed response to the FDA and work diligently to address all observations."

Experts in FDA regulatory compliance said companies tend to take Form 483 reports seriously. If a company does not adequately address the deficiencies cited in a report, the FDA can issue another one or escalate its response to a warning letter. Failure to correct violations can result in fines or even tougher measures by the FDA.

For example, a plant in Fort Washington, Pa., run by J&J's drug making unit McNeil Consumer Healthcare, received Form 483 reports prior to its shutdown in early May, the same month that McNeil recalled about 135 million bottles of children's and infant's Motrin, Tylenol and other drugs made at the plant. (See correction, below)

McNeil has begun an overhaul of that facility to bring it into FDA compliance.

Also, the FDA issued a warning letter earlier in January to McNeil citing manufacturing violations at its plant in Puerto Rico, after McNeil issued a recall of several over-the-counter drugs made at the plant including Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl following complaints of an "unusual moldy, musty or mildew-like" odor.

Late Thursday, McNeil announced a mass layoff of hundreds of workers at the Fort Washington plant, where all production has been suspended after the FDA cited multiple safety and quality violations there.

Given the intense scrutiny on Johnson & Johnson and its McNeil division, one expert said a new Form 483 issued on another of the company's factories doesn't bode well.

"It shows that there is a systemic issue at the company and management has to do a better job in bringing the facilities into compliance with FDA regulations," said Bill Kurani, founder of Antrix Inc., a regulatory affairs & quality assurance consulting firm.

Virus targets Siemens industrial control systems

2010-07-20T09:07:10Z

By Jim Finkle

BOSTON - Hackers have built a computer virus that attacks Siemens AG's widely used industrial control systems, creating malicious software that analysts said can be used for espionage and sabotage.

The German company said the malware is a Trojan worm dubbed Stuxnet that spreads via infected USB thumb drives, exploiting a yet-to-be-patched vulnerability in Microsoft Corp's Windows operating system.

"Just viewing the contents of the USB stick can activate the Trojan," said Siemens spokesman Alexander Machowetz. "Siemens recommends avoiding the use of a USB stick."

Siemens first learned of the problem on July 14, he said.

Stuxnet is among the first to surface that attacks software programs that run Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA, systems. Such systems are used to monitor automated plants -- from food and chemical facilities to power generators.

Once the worm infects a Siemens system, it quickly sets up communications with a remote server computer that can be used to steal proprietary corporate data or take control of the SCADA system, said Randy Abrams, a researcher with ESET, a privately held security firm that has studied Stuxnet.

Analysts said attackers may have chosen to spread the malicious software via a thumb drive because many SCADA systems are not connected to the Internet, but do sport USB ports.

Siemens said it has so far only identified one customer whose SCADA systems were infected by the virus, a customer in Germany that Machowetz declined to identify by name.

Security experts have long theorized that hackers -- including ones working for nation states or terrorist groups -- would one day develop viruses that target SCADA systems. They could be used to steal sensitive data or sabotage major infrastructure facilities by instructing software to attack those plants.

"It could be very valuable to a nation-state for war-like espionage. It could be very valuable to terrorist organizations," said ESET's Abrams.

Microsoft spokesman Jerry Bryant said he did not know when the company would update its Windows software to address the vulnerability that Stuxnet exploits.

Now that the exploit has been publicized, other hackers will quickly rush to develop malicious software programs that take advantage of the same vulnerability, said McAfee Inc spokesman Joris Evers.

Siemens, Microsoft and security experts who have studied the Stuxnet worm have yet to determine who created the malicious software.

Glaxo gains on FDA panel vote for Avandia

2010-07-16T09:07:17Z

On Wednesday, a joint panel meeting of FDA advisors said that while they believe Avandia carries a higher risk of heart attack, it should remain on the market, albeit with tighter prescribing restrictions. The product was approved the FDA in 1999.

Avandia's impact on cardiovascular health has been debatable. The product was once the world's best-selling diabetes pill due to its effectiveness in controlling blood-sugar levels in diabetics. But a recent re-examination of safety data has showed that it also appeared to raise the risk of heart attack, a major issue as many diabetics are already at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Avandia's safety issues first made headlines in 2007. Since that time, sales of the drug have fallen steadily, dropping 40% alone in 2009, with many patients being switched to a similar drug called Actos. Manufactured by Japanese drug maker Takeda (JP:4502 3,905, -60.00, -1.51%) , Actos is not believed to carry the same cardiovascular risks as Avandia.

"Although drugs may be in the same class and have the same indication, they also may have different effects in other areas due to their specific structure," the Japanese firm said in a statement.

FDA officials said on Wednesday that they plan to make a final decision on Avandia's fate in the near future. While the FDA is not bound to the recommendations of its advisory panels, it generally follows them.

"We doubt that they will ultimately pull the drug given the political implications of taking this action -- especially when they have a positive panel vote to fall back on," said Jeffrey Holford, a London-based analyst at Jefferies.

"There is no specific timeline on a final decision from the FDA, though we suspect they will act promptly and make a final decision to keep Avandia on the U.S. market by the end of August."

Many industry watchers have predicted the agency will end up imposing even more labelling restrictions on the product, which will further erode sales. The drug is already labelled advising that it can exacerbate heart failure in patients with cardiovascular disease.

European regulators plan to hold a similar safety hearing on Avandia from July 19 through 22 in London.

Also on Thursday, Glaxo announced it was setting aside £1.57 billion ($2.36 billion) to cover a variety of legal settlements, including those relating to Avandia. The company added that at "substantial majority" of the product liability cases filed over Avandia had been settled. The company plans to take the sum as a charge in the second-quarter.

The settlements and agreements in principle to settle also include an investigation by the U.S. government into the company's former manufacturing site at Cidra, Puerto Rico, and product liability and antitrust litigation relating to the anti-anxiety drug Paxil.

Of the sum, $750 million is to settle a case brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts and the U.S. Department of Justice over the Puerto Rico plant, which the drugmaker closed in 2007 after substandard versions of Avandamet and Paxil were seized.

Cases involving Paxil have revolved around concerns that the anti-anxiety drug can trigger suicidal behavior in some users.

Prepa, Siemens ink contract to upgrade SAE

2010-06-23T10:06:50Z

The SAE is the key tool in the operation of the utility’s electricity grid around the island, Prepa Executive Director Miguel Cordero said Friday after signing the contact with the Siemens unit.

The SAE, which is also known as the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), is a computerized system to acquire and process data that provides remote control of various generating units, substations and switch yards that make up Prepa’s grid.

The SAE carries out advanced applications of power analysis, which distinguish it from a common system of supervisory control. It also provides the function of automatic generation control using a software package that allows Prepa to monitor and control the generating system.

New golf pro at Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club

2010-06-23T10:06:44Z

“Ellie’s experience and expertise make him the perfect person to serve as head golf professional at Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club,” said Greg Sherwood, president of Southworth Golf, an affiliate of Southworth Development, LLC. “I have worked closely with Ellie over the years and I am confident he will continue providing quality and excellence for our clients and customers.”

Rodríguez began his career at El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo, working for Sherwood. At El Conquistador, he started out his career as a bag room attendant and was promoted to assistant golf pro.

Rodríguez’s passion for the game then took him to Hyatt Cerromnar Beach in Dorado, where he was also the assistant golf pro. He was first hired by Southworth Development to work at Westin Río Mar Beach in Río Grande as the assistant golf pro and then onto La Estancia Golf Resort of La Romana, Dominican Republic as head golf pro. He is currently working towards his Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Class A Status.

Rodríguez’s responsibilities at Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club include overseeing golf events, course operations and day-to-day management of the golf shop, course and snack bar. He also conducts the Ladies Golf Program, manages the year-round junior program and supervises the club’s popular weekly clinics.

Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club is a semi-private, 27-hole, championship links-style golf course featuring Puerto Rico’s first island green, a 32,000-square-foot oceanfront clubhouse with beach club and the restaurant.

Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club is part of the Costa Caribe Resort, which includes: The Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort, the Luxury Golf Villas and Costa Caribe Golf & Country Club. Costa Caribe Resort is owned by Serrallés Hotel, Inc. and is managed by Southworth Golf. Southworth Development is a privately held company, which acts as owner/builder, developer, operator and construction manager of golf and hospitality related resort facilities around the world. Two of its past projects include Río Mar Country Club and Coco Beach Golf & Country Club in Río Grande.

Johnson & Johnson expands recall

2010-06-17T09:06:58Z

Johnson & Johnson has expanded a January 15th recall of over-the-counter medicine.

The expanded recall included Benadryl Allergy Ultra tablets and Extra Strength Tylenol. The products were sold in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Bermuda and Tobago.

It comes after complaints about a moldy smell that can cause nausea and sickness. The smell has been blamed on a chemical used to treat wooden pallets that transport and store medicine.

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2010-06-15T11:06:59Z

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Seminarios educativos sobre eficiencia energética

2010-06-01T02:06:38Z

El Gobierno Municipal Autónomo de Carolina (GMAC) recibira propuestas para el desarrollo de seminarios educativos sobe la importancia de la conservación y eficiencia energética en diferentes comunidades del municipio. Esta actividad, catalogada como el Programa de Conservación y Eficiencia Energética al Alcance Comunitario, se llevará a cabo conforme a los propósitos y requerimientos del programa federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECGG).

La compañia seleccionada será responsable de organizar, preparar y proveer seminarios educativos semanalmente en comunidades de Carolina seleccionadas previamente. Los seminarios deben enfocarse en la importancia de la conservación y eficiencia energética, el uso de fuentes de energía renovable, la climatización en reemplazo de bombillas incandescentes por bombillas fluorescentes y alternativas de transporte. Esta iniciativa se llevará a cabo en coordinación con personal designado del GMAC para este proyecto.
Los detalles y requisitos especificos del proyecto estarán contenidos en los pliegos de instrucciones que estarán disponibles a partir del 27 de mayo de 2010 hasta el 3 de junio de 2010 en horario de 8:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m. y de 1:00 p.m. a 4:00 p.m. Estos serán discutidos en una reunión obligatoria que se llevará a cabo en el Departamento de Servicios Generales, ubicado en el segundo piso de la Casa Alcaldía, el lunes 7 de junio de 2010 at las 9:30 a.m.

Las propuestas serán individuales y se recibirán en sobres sellados en formato digital (pdf y/o Word). Las mismas deberán ser recibidas en o antes del 17 de junio de 2010, en el Departamento de Servicios Generales, 2ndo piso, hasta las 4:00 p.m.

Para más información adicional puede comunicarse conL:

Víctor H. Pellot Rosa,

Tel. 757-2626, Ext. 8268

Improvements at Culebra Airport

2010-05-12T10:05:30Z

The Ports Authorit will open bids for a New Taxiway and Area for T- Hangars at Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport in Culebra.
Work consists of the construction of one new taxiway, one taxiway connector, two taxilanes and a new platform area for four T-Hangars. Hangars structures will be constructed by others.

The taxiway, taxiway connector and taxilane pavements will consist of a 3” bituminous surface underlayed by a 6” layer of crushed aggregate on a stabilized subgrade, and the T Hangar area shall consist of an 18” compacted, crushed aggregate layer.

Compliance with Article 4B of Law 416 of Sept. 22, 2004 “Ley Sobre Política Pública Ambiental” will be attained by the P.R. Ports Authority.

Asphalt paving, marking, chain link fence installation and surface restoration are required.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held May 12, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. at the Directorate of Planning, Engineering and Construction Conference Room, Lindbergh St., Isla Grande, San Juan. A site visit has been tentatively scheduled for the bidders to make a field assessment, May 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

The proponent shall make good faith efforts, as defined in Appendix A of 49 CFR Part 23, Regulations of the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, to subcontract 18% of the dollar value of the prime contract to small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (DBE). Prospective proponents and subcontractors must call the P.R. Ports Authority (PRPA) DBE/EEO Coordinator, Angel Guerrero, Tel. 729-8636 to begin the process of certification as a DBE firm.

The project is subject to the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 which provides that preference be given to steel and manufactured products produced in the United States (Buy American Requirement) when funds are expended pursuant to a grant issued under the Airport Improvement Program (A.I.P.). The conditions for these requirements are included in the Contract Documents.

Veterans Affairs Dept Cited for Petroleum Storage Tank Violations in PR

2010-04-06T10:04:17Z

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will pay a $13,000 fine and hold training sessions on storage tank regulations to settle a complaint issued by EPA over a failure to monitor, inspect and maintain records for underground petroleum and diesel storage tank systems at a San Juan, P.R. facility. Petroleum underground storage tanks pose significant threats to soil, surface water and ground water across the nation if they leak.

“The storage of petroleum, if not done properly, has the potential to contaminate groundwater and compromise human health. It is critical that facilities monitor their tanks and make sure they are not leaking,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “The Department of Veterans Affairs acted quickly to bring the underground storage tank systems at its San Juan facility into compliance, and the training sessions it will hold as a result of this settlement should prevent similar cases in the future.”

A 2008 EPA inspection and Department of Veterans Affairs records showed that the Department failed to have two of its systems inspected as required, and did not maintain sufficient testing results and compliance records for three underground petroleum and diesel storage tank systems at its facility in San Juan. The Department has taken steps to correct these issues and EPA believes the facility’s underground storage tank systems comply with federal and Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board regulations.

In addition to paying a $13,000 fine, the Department of Veterans Affairs will hold four training sessions, which will be open to the public, to inform other owners and operators of underground storage tank systems in Puerto Rico about system management regulations. The training sessions will cost the Department about $111,000 and are considered a supplemental environmental project. A supplemental environmental project is an environmentally-beneficial project that a violator voluntarily agrees to undertake in settlement; it must be a project that a violator will not otherwise be required to perform.

The training sessions are tentatively scheduled for August 2010 in San Juan, Ponce, Aguadilla and Fajardo. For more information on the sessions, contact Ms. Luz Muriel-Diaz of the Veterans Affairs department at Luz.Muriel-Diaz@va.gov.

The Veterans Affairs facility in San Juan maintains five underground storage tank systems; one stores gasoline for vehicles and four store diesel to power emergency boilers and generators. Three of the five systems did not comply with underground storage tank regulations.

Petroleum and diesel releases from underground storage tanks can contaminate water, making it unsafe to drink, pose fire and explosion hazards, and can have short- and long-term effects on people’s health. More than 600,000 underground storage tank systems exist nationwide, and more than 375,000 leaking tanks have been cleaned up over the last decade.