Industry News

Club Caribe Destillers invierte $40 millones

2012-03-29T11:03:25Z

Por redacción de Sin Comillas

Un acuerdo entre el Gobierno y Club Caribe Destillers, LLC (CC1) permitió el establecimiento de una nueva destilería en el municipio de Cidra. El acuerdo, que tendrá una vigencia de 20 años a partir del año fiscal 2011-12, forma parte de una serie de acuerdos con productores locales (Bacardí y Serralles) de ron para asegurar la permanencia -a largo plazo- de dicha industria en Puerto Rico.

La destilería realizará una inversión de $40 millones en la construcción y se beneficiará de la Ley 178, la cual aumentó de hasta 10% a hasta 25% la porción de fondos del programa federal de reembolso del arbitrio del ron que el Gobierno asigna para promover e incentivar la industria.

CC1 será la tercera destilería de ron en Puerto Rico con capacidad de exportación y generará nuevas fuentes de ingresos provenientes del arbitrio federal al ron local. Bajo el Programa Federal de Reembolsos de Arbitrios de Ron, el Gobierno de Puerto Rico recibe un reembolso de $13.25 por galón proveniente del arbitrio federal de $13.50 que se le impone al galón prueba de ron que se vende en los Estados Unidos.

El gobernador, Luis Fortuño explicó que este tipo de acuerdo garantiza que la producción de los rones se mantenga en Puerto Rico por los próximos 20 años y de esta manera fortalecer y proteger una industria reconocida en el mundo entero por su excelencia. También le otorga al Gobierno la capacidad de trabajar directamente con los productores para desarrollar estrategias de promoción que aumenten su competitividad y estimulen su crecimiento.

La industria de ron de Puerto Rico representa sobre 5,000 empleos directos e indirectos e inyecta aproximadamente $400 millones anuales a través del programa federal de reembolso del arbitrio del ron; más del 70% de esa cantidad es atribuible a la contribución de Bacardí.

DuPont Electronics invertirá $40 millones en Manatí

2012-03-29T11:03:55Z

Por redacción de Sin Comillas

DuPont Electronics anunció una inversión de $40 millones en Manatí. Esta nueva inversión se suma a otros $12 millones recientemente anunciados para una expansión de la subsidiaria Pioneer Hi-Bred en Salinas. En conjunto, estas dos empresas van a crear 90 empleos entre Salinas y Manatí.

El gobernador, Luis G. Fortuño, explicó que la expansión en DuPont Electronics y en Pioneer Hi-Bred surge como resultado de un compromiso entre DuPont y PRIDCO para obtener fondos del programa de incentivos contributivos de Puerto Rico mediante decreto.

La compañía cuenta con cuatro subsidiarias en Puerto Rico: DuPont Electronics, DuPont Chemical y DuPont Agricultural en Manatí, y Pioneer Hi_Bred en Salinas. Con ventas que alcanzan casi los $40,000 anuales, esta corporación cuenta con presencia en 90 países.

EPA Adds Corozal Well Site in Corozal, Puerto Rico to the Superfund List

2012-03-13T04:03:51Z

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has added the Corozal Well site in Barrio Palos Blancos, Corozal, Puerto Rico to its Superfund National Priorities List of the country’s most hazardous waste sites. Sampling at the site, which is in a rural area near the municipalities of Corozal and Naranjito, found that the chemical tetrachloroethylene or PCE is contaminating a well used to supply drinking water to local residents. Exposure to PCE, a solvent commonly used in industrial processes, can have serious effects of people’s health including liver damage and an increased risk of cancer. After discovering the contamination in 2010, the Puerto Rico Department of Health ordered the well closed. In March 2011, the EPA installed a treatment system on the well to remove the contaminants and provide the community with water that is safe to drink.

“Ensuring that people have a safe source of drinking water is essential to protecting public health and is an EPA priority,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “By placing the Corozal Well site on the Superfund list, the EPA can do the extensive sampling needed to find the best ways to address the contamination and protect people’s health.”

The Corozal well, known locally as the Santana well, serves a small, rural population that is not connected to the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority public water supply system. Ground water samples collected in 2010 and 2011 confirmed the presence of PCE in the well. The EPA has not yet identified the source of the ground water contamination.

Nationwide, EPA is proposing to add 10 other sites to the Superfund list today and is designating nine others as final on the list. The EPA periodically proposes sites to the Superfund list and, after responding to public comments, designates them as final Superfund sites. The Superfund final designation makes them eligible for funds to conduct long-term cleanups. The Corozal Well site is now designated as final on the Superfund list.

The EPA does an extensive search to identify and locate the parties potentially responsible for the contamination at all sites on the Superfund list. The agency requires responsible parties to pay for or perform the cleanup work with EPA oversight. The majority of Superfund cleanups are performed by or paid for by polluters. Taxpayer dollars are used to cover EPA cleanup costs when no responsible party can be identified.

New EPA Position to Enhance Community Involvement on St. Croix

2012-03-12T02:03:39Z

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it will for the first time station a community involvement coordinator for the U.S. Virgin Islands on St. Croix. In mid-March, Geoffrey M. Garrison will begin his tenure in the Virgin Islands and will be handling a combination of community outreach and some emergency response work. Specifically, Geoff will oversee activities at the shutdown HOVENSA facility, respond to pollution releases and support the work of the U.S. Virgins Islands Recycling Partnership.

Geoff has been with the EPA’s Caribbean Environmental Protection Division in San Juan, Puerto Rico since 2000, where he did emergency response work under the Superfund program. He has responded to large scale emergencies, including the World Trade Center attack, Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi and the CAPECO Refinery explosion in Cataño, Puerto Rico. At the local level, Geoff worked in close cooperation with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources to address spills at the former St. Croix Alumina site, HOVENSA, and other oil or chemical releases.

For the last four years, Geoff has served in the U.S. Army Reserves, holding the rank of Colonel, as the U.S. Virgin Islands Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer in St. Croix. In this capacity, he is responsible for planning, coordinating with local, territorial and federal agencies throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands. He has served during major storms as liaison to the National Guard and Virgin Islands Territorial Management Agency, assisting the Defense Coordinating Officer in integrating active military support if requested by the U.S. Virgin Islands government.

Prior to joining the EPA, Geoff served for 10 years as an Engineer Officer in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of Captain. He served as commander of a Combat Heavy Engineer Company that deployed to Desert Shield/Storm in Iraq. He also served as Resident Engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Athens, Greece, and Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez campus.

Geoff holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez. Geoff is bilingual and fluent in Spanish.

In light of ongoing pollution problems related to various St. Croix facilities and the recent shutdown of the HOVENSA oil refinery, the EPA determined that it would be beneficial to assign someone with technical skills to the position on St. Croix. Along with his technical training, skills and experience, Geoff brings to this new position a strong understanding of community involvement, having planned and participated in outreach to impacted communities throughout the Caribbean.

EPA to Help Citizen Scientists Learn More about Air and Water Pollution in the U.S. Virgin Islands

2012-03-06T09:03:41Z

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging individuals and community groups in the U.S. Virgin Islands to apply for grants that will allow “citizen scientists” to collect information on air and water pollution in their communities and seek solutions to environmental and public health problems. Citizen science is a form of research that enlists the public in collecting a wide range of environmental data and is considered a developing tool for expanding scientific knowledge and literacy. The EPA will award a total of $25,000 for a project related to air or water pollution in the Virgin Islands.

“Community residents and organizations can provide invaluable insight into pollution problems in their communities and the best ways to reduce air and water pollution,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “By providing citizen scientists with the funding needed to advance their knowledge about local air and water pollution, the EPA is expanding its own scientific base and building collaborations with communities that will lead to effective and innovative solutions.”

Projects receiving funding through the citizen science grants will be expected to promote a comprehensive understanding of local pollution problems and identify and support activities that address them at the local level. Proposed projects must also consider environmental justice and should engage, educate and empower communities.

All applications are due no later than April 20, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Additional information on the grants, including guidance on eligibility and procedures for applying, is available at http://www.epa.gov/region2/grants/ or through http://www.grants.gov.

Para marzo el nuevo código de construcción

2012-02-27T11:02:53Z

por Luisa García Pelatt, sin comillas

El Director Ejecutivo de la Oficina de Gerencia de Permisos (OGPe), Edwin A. Irizarry Lugo, señaló que desde el próximo 1ro. de marzo entrará en vigor el nuevo Código de Construcción de Puerto Rico del 2011. Baja el nuevo codigo aqui

Irizarry Lugo recordó que el nuevo Código incluye una cláusula de transición para permitir que los proponentes presenten sus proyectos conforme al antiguo código de construcción o nuevo Código del 2011. “Esa cláusula busca atender, en primer lugar, proyectos ya diseñados bajo el antiguo código y de otra parte, brindar tiempo para el proceso de educación e implementación del nuevo código y sistema de permisos. En cuanto a esto último, la OGPe, en conjunto con varias organizaciones profesionales y entidades gubernamentales federales y estatales, hemos logrado establecer proceso educativo sobre tanto el nuevo código como el sistema de permisos”, expresó Irizarry Lugo.

Agregó que a tono con el compromiso de esta Administración de promover la salud y seguridad, y el bienestar general, en el 2009 se creó un Comité de Enmiendas, en el que participaron 13 entidades tanto gubernamentales como privadas. La ARPE, ahora OGPe, adoptó el Código de Construcción 2011 en noviembre de 2010 y entró en vigor en marzo de 2011, con la cláusula de transición indicada.

La OGPe creó la Comisión de Códigos de Construcción de Puerto Rico para la revisión del nuevo código, y se está en proceso de considerar enmiendas propuestas por la Comisión.

Con la adopción de este nuevo Código, Puerto Rico cuenta con uno que adopta estándares elevados de seguridad en las construcciones. El mismo provee, entre otras cosas; requisito de diseñar estructuras con resistencia a ráfagas de viento de 150 millas por hora (bajo el antiguo código era de 120mph) y capaces de soportar ondas expansivas de terremotos según estudios recientes; el requerimiento de rociadores en distintos tipos de edificios o usos; un Código de Conservación de Energía completo; nuevos parámetros para facilitar el acceso de personas con impedimentos y parámetros más exigentes para salidas de emergencia en toda construcción.

Estado notifica período de gracia para corporaciones que adeuden informes anuales

2012-02-27T11:02:45Z

En aras de que las corporaciones que adeuden informes anuales al Departamento de Estado puedan ponerse al día, a tenor con la Ley General de Corporaciones, el Secretario de Estado informó la apertura de un período de gracia de 5 meses para que toda entidad que adeude informes corporativos tenga la oportunidad de radicar los mismos con una reducción en el pago de los derechos. La radicación es pro forma por lo que bastará incluir la siguiente información: nombre, dirección, teléfono y correo electrónico.

El período de gracia comenzó el 27 de enero y cerrará el 27 de junio de 2012. La radicación será única y exclusivamente a través del portal de Corporaciones del Departamento de Estado. Puede accederlo a través de cualquiera de las siguientes direcciones:

http://www.estado.gobierno.pr
http://www.pr.gov
http://prcorpfiling.f1hst.com

Para determinar si es elegible para el período de gracia, favor tener presente los siguientes criterios:

No cualifican las corporaciones que no tienen la obligación legal de radicar un informe o pagar derecho anual.
Su corporación debe aparecer en el archivo digital corporativo.
Deben radicarse todos los informes anuales desde la formación de la corporación.
Los pagos de derechos serán aplicados por orden de antigüedad a partir de la formación de la corporación.

Para información adicional puede comunicarse a través del correo electrónico support@estado.gobierno.pr o llamar al (787) 722-2121 extensión 4348 de 8:00AM a 4:00PM, excepto días feriados.

EPA Reaches Agreement with Battery Recycling Company, Inc. of Arecibo, Puerto Rico To Reduce Lead Pollution

2012-02-23T03:02:59Z

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a legal agreement with the Battery Recycling Company, Inc. requiring it to take multiple actions to reduce the spread of lead contamination from its Arecibo, Puerto Rico facility. As part of an ongoing investigation of the facility, the EPA identified violations of federal regulations governing the proper handling of hazardous materials. The agreement announced today requires the company to take immediate steps to address the environmental violations and prevent releases of lead and other pollutants from the site. The company will invest more than $3 million in facility upgrades and will undertake three environmental projects to benefit the community. The Battery Recycling Company has agreed, at this time, to pay a $112,500 penalty for alleged violations of the hazardous waste law.

Lead is a toxic metal that can have serious, long-term health consequences for adults and children. Even at low levels, lead can cause I.Q. deficiencies, reading and learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention spans, hyperactivity and other behavioral problems in children.

“Lead is a dangerous toxin that can affect a child’s ability to learn. We need to do everything possible to protect the children of Arecibo from being exposed to lead. This agreement reached by the EPA and Arecibo Battery Recycling does just that. It will also help protect the health of the workers at the plant and all people living near the facility,” said Judith A. Enck, the EPA Regional Administrator.

The EPA inspections identified significant violations of federal air, water and hazardous waste regulations. The air and water violations were addressed in previous EPA orders issued to the company. The agreement announced today addresses the hazardous waste violations under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

The Battery Recycling Company, Inc. is a lead smelter that recycles used motor vehicle batteries and produces approximately 60 tons of lead per day. Throughout 2010 and 2011, the EPA conducted a series of inspections of the facility to determine its compliance with federal laws and regulations. The facility was found to generate lead-contaminated dust during battery processing, lead smelting and refining operations, and the storage and handling of waste. Workers have also carried lead dust on their clothes and equipment into their cars and homes, putting their families and others at risk.

Under the agreement announced today, Battery Recycling will completely enclose the lead recycling processing areas and run all emissions through dust collection systems. The company will also finish building a new dust collection system to capture lead dust within the work area. Trucks and automobiles leaving the facility will be washed and inspected to reduce the spread of lead dust. Facility roads will be paved and pavements will be cleaned, in many cases, at least twice each day.

Battery Recycling has also agreed to fund the following local projects:
· Purchase of a vacuum sweeper vehicle to clean facility roadways of lead dust or other pollutants. It will improve the collection of dust and dirt and the proper disposal of the waste. The project is estimated to cost a minimum of $180,000.

· Purchase special equipment to compress dust from collection storage bins into pellets for easier handling. The project is estimated to cost a minimum of $150,000 · Provide assistance to local high schools in Puerto Rico to improve environmental education involving the safe handling and disposal of old chemicals. The project is estimated to cost a minimum of $150,000

The order announced today is the latest in a series of actions the EPA has taken to protect people’s health and the environment in Arecibo. Under previous agreements with the EPA, Battery Recycling improved existing employee changing areas, installed a decontamination station for vehicles entering and leaving facility processing areas, and trained employees to ensure that “clean” and “dirty” lockers and changing areas are kept separate and used in a way that minimizes contamination between the areas. Battery Recycling is now also required to follow a standard operating procedure manual for continuously monitoring compliance with previous orders.

SBA loans in P.R., USVI up 57% in fiscal ’11

2012-01-24T02:01:34Z

Written by Michelle Kantrow

The U.S. Small Business Administration guaranteed 656 loans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during fiscal year 2011, a 57 percent increase over loans approved during the previous year. The results obtained are due in part to incentives implemented under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and to a renewed commitment from SBA lenders.

“Last year we predicted 2011 would be our best yet, and we couldn’t be more pleased with our results,” said SBA District Director José R. Sifontes. “By extending enhancements first enacted under the Recovery Act, and permanently increasing SBA loan limits, the Jobs Act enabled us to provide entrepreneurs with expanded access to much needed capital to meet their small business needs.”

As of Sept. 30, 2011, the SBA guaranteed over $84.8 million to small businesses in the district, an 18 percent increase over loan dollars approved in fiscal year 2010. Of the total dollar amount, $53 million were approved under the SBA’s 7(a) loan guaranty program, which provides long-term financing to acquire equipment and machinery, inventory, fixtures and accessories, renovations, purchase land, build new buildings, purchase existing businesses, and for the repayment of debts.

The SBA also helped create or retain nearly 500 jobs during fiscal year 2011, by approving $31.9 million under its 504 Certified Development Company loan program, designed to promote economic development by creating jobs through long-term, fixed financing.

“Small businesses are the driving force behind the economies of the islands we serve, and we look forward to continue increasing opportunities for them to start, grow and succeed,” Sifontes said.

Signed on Sept. 27, 2010 the Small Business Jobs Act permanently increased 7(a) and 504 loan limits from $2 million to $5 million (for manufacturers up to $5.5 million), expanding job creation opportunities for new and existing small businesses.

The Jobs Act also permanently increased limits on the agency’s Microloan program from $35,000 to $50,000, and turned the Export Express pilot loan program into a permanent program, with 90 percent guarantees for loans up to $350,000 and 75 percent for loans between $350,000 and $500,000.

In addition, the law provided $50 million in grants available to Small Business Development Centers, of which $621,797 went to the Puerto Rico Small Business & Technology Development Center to implement a Business Financial Turnaround program, targeting businesses in crisis by providing a four step program of in-depth financial management counseling, among other projects.

More than $420K invested in Aibonito ‘green’ energy projects

2012-01-24T02:01:40Z

Written by Michelle Kantrow

Municipal buildings, public service centers and some 60 families in the mountain town of Aibonito are investing more than $420,000 to develop “green” energy projects to reduce their energy costs and their dependence on fossil fuels, Puerto Rico Energy Affairs Administration Executive Director Luis Bernal said Thursday.

Through American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding, 61 households have been able to switch out energy-guzzling equipment, such as older air conditioning units, refrigerators, and light bulbs for energy efficient units, he said. The changes are helping families pay an average of 40 percent less in electricity bills, Bernal said.

“Today, we see families using the sun to heat their water, families who own high energy-efficiency appliances and [are able to] light their homes efficiently,” he said. “Thanks to federal and state funds allocated to green energy, Puerto Rico is moving firmly toward an energy era, while supporting and promoting a local green economy.”

During his visit to Aibonito, Bernal toured some of the retrofitted homes with town Mayor Willie Alicea. Together, they visited the home of Luis Cartagena, who showed them an electricity bill reflecting a 50 percent savings as a result of the changes made.

“I went from paying around $140 monthly to paying between $65 and $70 after replacing my old water heater with a solar water heater, the refrigerator with an Energy Star-labeled unit and replacing the old air conditioning units with high efficiency ones. I’m really happy,” said Cartagena.

Of the $420,000 investment, $160,000 went to municipal energy projects at the Aibonito City Hall, the library, the Municipal Revenue Collections Center building and the Department of Public Works. By adopting solar energy, retrofitting lighting systems, installing motion sensors and replacing inefficient air conditioning units, Aibonito will shave off about $30,000 from its annual energy costs, Alicea said.

“We’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to improve our public services in Aibonito. We have more than 60 families that are reaping the benefits of this great initiative,” he said. “We’ll continue seeking and providing opportunities to other families, so our municipality can benefit of energy conservation mechanisms that enhance their quality of life.”

Supreme Court denies PLA petition to block proposed Guaynabo mega-mall

2012-01-24T02:01:38Z

Written by Michelle Kantrow

Constructora Sambil, the Venezuelan developer behind the proposed $400 million mega-shopping center in Guaynabo, is hopeful it will be able to break ground on the project this year after the Puerto Rico Supreme Court denied a motion for reconsideration presented by Plaza Las Américas that sought to paralyze the mall’s construction.

The court’s verdict released late last week shot down Plaza’s petition to overturn the Appellate Court’s consent of the Puerto Rico Planning Board’s endorsement of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement — a fundamental element in the permitting process required for development projects.

Attorneys for Plaza Las Américas, the largest mall in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, also unsuccessfully asked the Supreme Court to rescind the resolution issued by the Planning Board in March 2009.

In an interview with News is my Business, Robert Cohen, a high-ranking Constructora Sambil executive, said the court’s determination could finally lead to the project’s groundbreaking later this year.

The proposed mixed-use project that encompasses 550,000 square feet of retail space, a 200-room hotel, a 100,000 square-foot office building and 150 residences, has been on hold since the company bought the land adjacent to the Guaynabo landfill in 2005. The ambitious complex could take about three years to complete.

“We wanted to grow outside Venezuela and we believe in Puerto Rico and in our product, which is a different concept from the traditional shopping center,” Cohen said. “Our shopping center is more of a social gathering place, more familiar.”

Constructora Sambil’s business model also represents a change-up from what is usually done at large-scale shopping centers: prioritizing on leasing space to larger “anchor” stores at discount fees that are usually passed on to the smaller tenant.

“Our mix focuses on the small- and mid-sized retailer. We believe our anchors should be fun and entertainment, rather than the larger stores. That way, we can be more competitive with our leasing fees,” he said.

While Sambil has been caught in a legal battle to do business in Puerto Rico, it has moved forward with its expansion plans throughout the Caribbean. Earlier this year, the company inaugurated its $160 million Sambil Santo Domingo mall in the Dominican Republic and has already signed off on a $100 million retail complex in Curaçao.

“While in Puerto Rico we have been throwing away money in legal costs that make no sense and benefit almost no one, in the Dominican Republic and Curaçao we’ve received a king’s welcome,” Cohen said, while reiterating that Sambil has no plans to walk away from the local market.

“Puerto Rico has to be the mecca for tourism and retail for the U.S., and right now, it is not,” he said.

EPA Reaches Agreement with Hotel Developers to Settle Violations of Clean Water Act; Developers of the Condado Duo Hotel Complex to Expand Artificial Reef in Condado Lagoon

2011-12-22T04:12:04Z

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a legal settlement with the developers of the Vanderbilt and La Concha Hotels of San Juan for discharging pollutants into the San Juan stormwater sewer system, which is connected to the Condado Lagoon. The settlement requires the payment of a $472,240 civil penalty and the expansion of an existing artificial habitat for fish in the Condado Lagoon. Under the agreement’s terms, the hotel’s developer, International Hospitality Associates S. en C. por A. (IHA-SE) and its managing partner, International Hospitality Associates, Inc. (IHA-INC), will construct 30 units of reef modules at an estimated cost of $32,000.

“Pollutants, whether carried by uncontrolled stormwater runoff or discharged into waterways, can seriously damage ecosystems," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "I encourage all developers in Puerto Rico to take the necessary precautions to protect rivers, streams and other water bodies from contamination.”

Under the federal Clean Water Act, pollutants may not be discharged into navigable waters of the United States without the proper permit. Developers of sites one acre or larger are required to implement stormwater pollution prevention plans to keep soil and contaminants from running off into nearby waterways. The rate at which water carries soil and contaminants off of construction sites is typically 10 to 20 times greater than that from agricultural lands, and 1,000 to 2,000 times greater than those of forested lands.

EPA inspected the Vanderbilt Hotel and the La Concha Hotels in April and August 2006, and discovered that they had discharged stormwater into the San Juan stormwater sewer system from the construction sites without first applying for the required permit. EPA also found that the developers had discharged water used in the construction into the stormwater sewer system without the proper permit. These discharges led to increased turbidity (water cloudiness) and bacteria in the adjacent Condado Lagoon.

The Condado Lagoon Taino Coral Trail and Reef Enhancement Project is a habitat restoration project consisting of 44 artificial reef modules that was constructed following the Morris J. Berman oil spill of 1994. Since the first phase of the Reef Enhancement Project, the number of fish and other species within the lagoon has increased. The additional 30 reef modules IHA-SE and IHA-INC will construct will further enhance the wildlife and fisheries value of the Condado Lagoon.

The artificial reef construction funded by IHA-SE and IHA-INC is considered by EPA to be a supplemental environmental project, which is an environmentally-beneficial project that a violator voluntarily agrees to undertake in partial settlement of violations, and it must be a project that a violator would not otherwise be required to perform.

EPA Funding to Reduce Air Pollution From Trucks Operating in Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico

2011-12-07T08:12:05Z

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is helping to reduce air pollution in and around the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico by providing the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico with $886,095 to install pollution reduction technology on 72 heavy-duty trucks and replace 10 old heavy-duty trucks with 2010 or newer less polluting models. The university will also raise awareness about the environmental impacts of diesel air pollution through educational outreach. Older diesel engines generate significant amounts of fine particles, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide, which are released into the air and can make people sick. The grant will help pay for clean diesel projects that will improve air quality in an urban area of Puerto Rico where asthma rates are high.

“Reducing air pollution from diesel engines helps decrease asthma attacks, respiratory problems, lost work days due to illness and premature death,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “EPA’s support of clean diesel programs is eliminating tons of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides and is providing enormous health benefits.”

The particles in diesel exhaust can penetrate deep into the lungs and pose serious health risks, including increasing the risk of cancer and aggravating the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory problems. In addition, diesel exhaust contributes to already unhealthy levels of smog, which are formed when chemicals released by vehicles, power plants and industrial boilers react in sunlight.

Nationwide, diesel engines emit 7.3 million tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and 333,000 tons of fine particles annually. While EPA's standards significantly reduce emissions from newly manufactured engines, the clean diesel projects funded through these grants address older diesel engines that are still in use and continue to emit higher levels of harmful pollution.

Nationally, EPA has taken steps to ensure that the diesel engines manufactured now and in the future will be significantly cleaner than those operating today; however, diesel engines are very durable and older models will continue to be used and can pose health and environmental problems for decades. Repowering existing diesel engines with newer, cleaner engines is a relatively simple and cost effective way to reduce diesel pollution.

EPA’s efforts to reduce air pollution are ongoing. Last year, EPA announced tougher tailpipe emission standards for cars and light-duty trucks for model years 2012-2016, which will result in cleaner vehicles - ultimately requiring an average fuel economy standard of 35 mpg in 2016. This will result in increased fuel economy of five percent every year, reduce greenhouse gas pollution by nearly 950 million metric tons and save the average car buyer more than $3,000 in fuel costs.

EPA and U.S. Department of Energy to Develop Renewable Energy on the Price's Pit Landfill

2011-12-01T03:12:40Z

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory are evaluating the feasibility of developing solar power production on the Price’s Pit Landfill in Pleasantville and Egg Harbor, New Jersey. The assessment is part of the RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative through which EPA will help revitalize abandoned sites, clean up the environment and lay the groundwork for renewable energy and job creation.

“America faces serious environmental and economic challenges caused by our over reliance on fossil fuels,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “Part of the solution is to use previously contaminated land to generate clean energy. This strategy will revitalize communities, cut air pollution and create new jobs.”

The Price’s Pit Landfill property consists of 26 acres that had functioned as a sand and gravel excavating operation from the early 1960s until 1968. In 1969, the site became a commercial solid waste landfill and it began accepting both drummed and bulk liquid waste. Landfill operations were stopped in 1976. As part of an ongoing Superfund cleanup, EPA and DOE will assess the potential for solar power production at the site. Because the site will be level with sparse vegetation once the cap is installed, it may be a good candidate.

EPA and DOE selected 26 sites across the country where wind, solar, biomass, or geothermal energy production may be possible. EPA and DOE will determine the potential energy generating capacity of the sites, the optimal location for placement of the renewable energy technology on the sites, the return on the investment, and the economic feasibility of the renewable energy projects.

EPA Action Preserves One Thousand Acres of Wetlands in Loiza, Puerto Rico

2011-12-01T03:12:20Z

The Puerto Rico Land Authority will preserve 1,000 acres of wetlands as part of an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Wetlands help prevent flooding and the pollution of rivers, lakes and streams. The wetlands preserved under the settlement, the majority of which are in Loiza just east of San Juan, will now be protected from future commercial and industrial development. The land will be protected through a conservation easement filed under Puerto Rico law to ensure that it will remain undeveloped forever.

“Protecting wetlands is a priority for EPA, especially in Puerto Rico where they are increasingly threatened by over development,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Through EPA’s settlement with the Land Authority, 1,000 acres of vital wetlands will now be preserved forever.”

The settlement is part of an initiative to address issues in the Canóvanas area of northeastern Puerto Rico where unpermitted housing and roads have been built on Puerto Rico Land Authority property, including in valuable wetlands. The Puerto Rico Land Authority owns, manages, sells and leases property throughout the Commonwealth. The 1,000 acres of wetlands being preserved are currently leased for low impact agriculture, but could have been sold in the future for development. The Puerto Rico Land Authority also paid a $25,000 penalty and spent $100,000 to establish a wetlands management program separate from the preservation of the 1,000 acres.

Wetlands are a valuable resource that naturally filter chemical contaminants from our water and land and help control floods. Wetlands also support a vast array of bird, plant, aquatic and animal life. Damaging or eliminating wetlands can be devastating to coastal ecosystems. Wetlands also provide recreational opportunities, aesthetic benefits, sites for research and education, and support fisheries. Anyone planning construction activities in wetlands or streams must contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to obtain a permit.