EPA Updates Residents on Chemical Removal and Mysterious Odors

The Environmental Protection Agency administrator for Region 2, Lisa Garcia, with a cadre of environmental experts, told an audience of around 100 people that potentially harmful chemicals are being removed from the St. Croix refinery. She also spoke about reports of foul odors in the area at the town hall Thursday evening at the American Legion Hall in Frederiksted.

The discovery of the chemicals followed a fire at the refinery in August 2022 that triggered an EPA investigation in September, Garcia said. As a result, the owner, Port Hamilton Refining and Transportation, was ordered to repair faulty equipment and remove ammonia, liquified petroleum gas and liquid amines containing hydrogen sulfide from the site.

Using a private contractor approved by the EPA, the removal of the chemicals began at the end of April. According to Garcia, removal is underway, watched by EPA monitors with input from some V.I. agencies, such as the Health Department, V.I Territorial Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.

So far, the removal of amines continues with 26 of a possible 61 containers ready to be shipped off-island, with the remaining ready to ship by the end of June, the administrator said.