CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The University of the Virgin Islands has received a $1 million award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support UVI students who wish to pursue a master’s in Marine and Environmental Science in the territory. The award will also be used to secure workforce positions in marine and environmental science in the […]
Category: Environmental News
Cuba Brings Oil Depot Fire Under Control, Worst In Island’s History
HAVANA — Firefighters on Tuesday finally overcame what officials described as the worst fire in Cuba’s history that over five days destroyed 40 percent of the Caribbean island’s main fuel storage facility and caused massive blackouts. Reuters witnesses reported the raging flames that ravaged a four-tank segment of the Matanzas super tanker port had died […]
US Virgin Islands Creates Park System, Adds 30 Properties
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The USVI on Tuesday created a new territorial parks system that protects more than 30 areas from commercial development and reserves them for activities including hiking and beaching. Properties that total hundreds of acres were identified in St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, including Great Salt Pond, Oppenheimer Beach, Cas Cay […]
Dry Air, Saharan Dust Shutting Down Tropical Wave’s Chances of Blossoming
MIAMI — The tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic is beginning to show its limitations, causing the National Hurricane Center to lower its odds of development. A wave that emerged off the coast of Africa early Monday is continuing to produce a large area of disorganized cloudiness and thunderstorms a few hundred miles southwest of […]
Pile of Petroleum Coke Burning Doesn’t Fret New Owners of Refinery
CHRISTIANSTED — A pile of petroleum coke at the idled St. Croix refinery was found smoldering early Thursday morning, and the facility’s new owners did not issue a public notice until Sunday. The petroleum coke, “a solid fuel that resembles charcoal,” is still burning, according to the press release from Fermin Rodriguez, vice president and refinery […]
Oil Facility Fire Jeopardizes Cuba’s Frail Electric System
HAVANA — A deadly fire that began at a large oil storage facility in western Cuba spread today, threatening to plunge the island into a deeper energy crisis as it forced officials to shut down a key thermoelectric plant. Flames around dawn enveloped a third tank that firefighters had tried to cool as they struggle […]
‘Fierce’ Tropical Depression Expected This Week In Atlantic
MIAMI — People in the Eastern Caribbean don’t expect severe tropical weather in August, but the Atlantic Basin could have a new tropical depression later this week. Satellite observations show a fierce tropical disturbance has emerged off the western coast of Africa and is moving west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across the tropical Atlantic. […]
Fire at Cuba Oil Facility Spreads as 3rd Tank Ignites
HAVANA — A deadly fire that began at a large oil storage facility in western Cuba spread today after flames enveloped a third tank that firefighters had tried to cool as they struggle to fight the massive blaze. At least one person has died and 125 are injured, with another 14 reported missing ever since […]
Tropical Wave Now Has A 40% Chance of Becoming Severe Weather: NHC
MIAMI — With the peak of hurricane season approaching the tropics may have woken up from their weeks-long slumber. The National Hurricane Center began projecting the formation a potential tropical system in the eastern Atlantic Ocean as a tropical wave is forecast to move off the west coast of Africa over this weekend. The NHC […]
Cuba Fire Rages at Fuel Storage Port; Mexico, Venezuela Sending Help
HAVANA — A massive oil-fed fire burned for a second day on Saturday near Cuba’s supertanker port in Matanzas, as Mexico and Venezuela sent teams to help fight the inferno and Cuba accepted a U.S. offer of unspecified “technical advice.” On Friday evening, lightning struck one of eight storage tanks at the facility 60 miles […]