DPNR commissioner discusses sewage overflow, vessel removals, land and water use plan, libraries

ST. CROIX — The head of the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources discussed grant funding for pump station upgrades to prevent sewage discharge into the territory’s harbors during today’s episode of “Comes with the Territory” on WTJX-TV, Channel 12 in addition to capacity challenges with implementing the Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan that will be presented to senators on Tuesday.

Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol also discussed his department’s efforts to remove hurricane-damaged vessels from territorial waters in addition to providing public library status updates to include construction progress and timelines for reopening.

A collapsed sewer line in Norre Gade on St. Thomas resulted in sewage flowing into the Charlotte Amalie Harbor in September during the same time the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority experienced a collapsed line in Anna’s Retreat and pump failures in the Cancryn area. Sewage overflowed from three manholes in downtown Christiansted on St. Croix in October due to a malfunctioning pump at the LBJ Pump Station. It was not the first time for the pump to fail either.