EPA Regional Administrator Martucci's Trip To Puerto Rico Highlights Environmental Progress And Partnerships

Last week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 Administrator Michael Martucci traveled to Puerto Rico to engage with local officials to assess advancements in Superfund work, enforcement initiatives, water infrastructure investments, and other priorities.

“My trip to Puerto Rico highlighted the incredible impact of collaboration among the Governor Jenniffer González-Colón, mayors, government entities and industry partners,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “Through cooperative federalism, we are paving the way for significant environmental and economic advancements in Puerto Rico.”

While in Puerto Rico, EPA Regional Administrator Martucci met with Puerto Rico Governor Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon to discuss many topics critical to Puerto Rico, including the efforts to strengthen Puerto Rico’s energy grid and modernize Puerto Rico’s water and wastewater systems.

The visit also highlighted significant achievements, including a Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) investment of more than $40M in improvements at the Dorado Wastewater Treatment Plant, including work to significantly increase sewer capacity. The Regional Administrator visited Dorado, Puerto Rico, to see firsthand the impacts of sewage management issues. Thanks to Regional Administrator Martucci’s meeting, and through discussions with community members and partners at PRASA, EPA is working to support new infrastructure and protect the health of Dorado.

Additionally, the Regional Administrator visited the Cidra Groundwater Contamination site to see a modern treatment technique that will significantly speed up the cleanup process. By applying heat to contaminated soil, harmful materials are turned into gases, removed, and filtered. This cleanup technique is expected to reduce a multi-year cleanup to just months.

The trip also included a tour of the former CAPECO site, now operated by Puerto Rico Energy LLC. After a catastrophic fire at the former CAPECO site, EPA partnered with the owners to redevelop the Bayamón facility and associated gas stations across Puerto Rico, illustrating how partnership with industry can be an integral part of a comprehensive cleanup and enforcement approach. EPA Regional Administrator Martucci took a firsthand look at improvements at the site and the additional safeguards put in place to maintain environmental safety since EPA's emergency response in 2009.

Finally, EPA Regional Administrator Martucci met with members of the “Quintas de Dorado” located in the Municipality of Dorado, suffers from wastewater capacity issues, creating backups and overflows impacting homes, businesses, and streets in the area. Under the Clean Water Act, EPA works with Puerto Rico to enforce sewer discharge regulations which are vital in protecting public health. Currently, EPA is working with the government of Puerto Rico and the municipality to increase the wastewater treatment capacity needed to resolve these issues.

EPA is committed to fulfilling the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment and advancing economic growth while providing clean air, water and land for all Americans.

For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.