NEW YORK, New York, October 1, 2007 (ENS) - Cleanup work on the island of
Vieques, Puerto Rico is moving forward after more than 60 years of U.S. Navy
use of the island and surrounding waters for amphibious training exercises,
air-to-ground maneuvers and a waste explosives detonation range. The island
is located about seven miles southeast of mainland Puerto Rico.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, last month signed a proposed
federal facility inter-agency agreement with several agencies and
jurisdictions for the cleanup, which will include removal of unexploded
ordnance and remnants of exploded ordnance.
"Work has been proceeding at the site, but reaching an agreement with all
the parties involved is a significant milestone," said EPA Regional
Administrator Alan Steinberg. "The federal government agencies and the
commonwealth are on the same page on how we will move forward, and that will
undoubtedly help in cleaning up this site to the benefit of all involved."
http://www.ens-newswire.com:80/ens/oct2007/2007-10-01-091.asp