Community says little on contamination findings at Caneel Bay

ST. JOHN — At a sparsely attended Virgin Islands National Park listening session Tuesday night, one of two comments from community members hinted at the possible reason for the low turnout.

“There was a lack of communication about this meeting and the meeting two weeks ago, as evidenced by the fact there are fewer people here,” said resident Nancy Grayhek.

Grayhek was one of two residents who attended the in-person portion of the hybrid event, with a handful of residents tuning in virtually. The meeting was designated as a listening session for residents to share their comments on the National Park Service’s Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis addendum at the site of the former Caneel Bay Resort, which discovered lead paint on one structural column and asbestos in some roofing materials and pipes.

While Tuesday’s meeting was announced at the Sept. 14 meeting where the engineering evaluation and cost analysis addendum findings were shared, and a notice was posted on the NPS’s Planning, Environment & Public Comment website, the VINP did not issue a press release ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. It was announced on the VINP Facebook page about six hours before the meeting was set to start.

The only other comment came from Jon Roll, one of the two in-person attendees. Roll noted that it was revealed at the Sept. 14 meeting that the NPS southeast regional director, who has the final say on what happens at the Caneel Bay property, has never been to St. John to assess the site.