V.I. Toxic Releases Decreased in Last Two Years According to EPA

While global warming increases unabated, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that toxic releases from the Virgin Islands at the source rank 52 of 56 (with one being the highest) in data collected between 2013 and 2022 – a decrease of 21 percent. The territory ranked 30 of 56 in 2021.

The report is available to the public on the EPA website.

Coincidentally, the Limetree Bay refinery closed in July 2021 and the refinery has not refined oil since then.

“Disposal into the environment should be a last resort and must be done in an environmentally safe manner,” Carlos Vega, EPA’s Region 2 public information officer, wrote to the Source in an email. “The law defines source reduction as practices that minimize hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants entering waste streams before recycling, treatment or disposal.”