National Park Service Releases Caneel Bay Contaminant Study Results
Additional environmental investigation planned for winter Date: September 20, 2021
Contact: Nigel Fields, 340-770-6201 ext [email protected],
ST. JOHN, U.S. Virgin Islands – The National Park Service (NPS) today released the final Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA) Report addressing environmental contamination at Caneel Bay Resort, following consideration of public comments submitted on the draft report this summer.
The final EE/CA report revealed the presence of a variety of contaminants, including pesticides and metals, at concentrations that pose unacceptable long-term risks to human health and the environment in two of three study areas. The affected areas include 5.4 acres around the maintenance and landscaping area and a 1.5-acre landfill, identified as Areas 2 and 3, respectively. At this time, there is no evidence of contamination in areas currently open for public use. Contaminant removal actions will be required in impacted areas to eliminate unacceptable risks. The NPS will outline its decision to proceed with environmental cleanup and contaminant removal in an Action Memorandum to be published by mid-October on the project website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/CaneelBayAssessment.
The EE/CA also identified data gaps, which the NPS will investigate this winter and present the results in an addendum to the EE/CA expected by the summer of 2022. Among other inquiries, the EE/CA addendum will address potential groundwater contamination and determine if hazardous levels of lead or asbestos have been released to the environment. The data gaps will not delay removal actions recommended in the final EE/CA report for Areas 2 and 3.
Community engagement remains an NPS priority in the ongoing plan for Caneel Bay. Current information about the NPS investigation and response to environmental contamination and the redevelopment of Caneel Bay will be available throughout the cleanup, planning and development process at https://www.nps.gov/viis/caneelbay.htm.
