DPNR/DEP Projects                                            Click Here for DPNR/DEP's
                                                                                                                                                    FY 2005 Accomplishments

Air Quality

Solid Waste Management

• Revise local Air Pollution Regulations to include the control of refrigerants (chlorofluorocarbon).

• Issue Title V Operating Permits to all identified air pollution sources that are subject to Title V of the Clean Air Act.

• Coordinate, collaborate and initiate efforts to develop a vehicle emissions inspection and monitoring program that will help ensure that USVI vehicles meet national standards for tail pipe emissions.

• Coordinate with local and federal government agencies and provide regulatory oversight to ensure that USVI waste disposal sites are brought into compliance with all applicable laws, both local and federal.

• Coordinate and assist in the establishment of a commercial used oil acceptance program at HOVENSA and the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority.

• Permit and regulate all used oil generators and transporters in the Territory.

Underground Storage Tanks

Pesticides

• Bring all underground storage tank (UST) owners and operations into compliance with financial responsibility provisions of the USVI UST law.

• Revise and draft new pesticide rules and regulations to meet evolving environmental safety and health issues, and to require local registration of pesticides.

Water Quality & Related Programs

• Implement the national Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS) as the main reporting vehicle for the 319 NPS Grant Program (i.e., non-point source pollution projects under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act).

• Implement Earth Change Permitting Program (responsibility was recently transferred to DEP from another division).

• Implement Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for Salt River Bay and Marina on St. Croix, and Vessup Bay and Magens Bay on St. Thomas.

• Draft and have enacted new groundwater laws and regulations.

• Obtain Territorial Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) general permitting authority to efficiently issue storm water and decentralized wastewater systems (OSDS) permits.

• Perform inventory and assessment of USVI wetlands.

• Establish wetlands restoration in highly impacted areas.

• Develop operator certification and training program for operators of community and non-transient non-community public water systems.

• Develop and implement regulations for roof coating materials that reduce potential health risks associated with roof catchment systems.

Education/Outreach & Small Business

Governance & Quality Assurance

• Partner with local schools to develop “School Based Environmental Clubs” in an effort to promote and heighten student awareness and interest in USVI environmental matters.  Implement and deliver education and outreach programs through hands-on environmental activities and projects.

• Develop an environmental video to aid in educating students and the community on environmental protection issues and DPNR/DEP program objectives.

• Develop and provide free workshops to educate small businesses within the Territory on regulatory changes, environmental compliance and related subjects.

• Develop departmental Quality Assurance (QA) policy addressing the regulation of wastewater laboratories, training and certification requirements for wastewater operators.

• Perform QA audits of all 319 NPS projects that are conducting monitoring to determine proper QA protocol.

• Coordinate efforts within the various work units of the Division of Environmental Protection to develop a formal proposal and apply for a Brownfields Voluntary Clean up Grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency.