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 […]
Tag: Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR)
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 […]
Security Guard Smoking Marijuana While Driving Without License Plate Arrested On Illegal Gun Charge
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Driving without a license plate while smoking marijuana left one St. Thomas motorist vulnerable to “Operation Gridlock” this weekend. Alexander Milton Petersen, 30, was arrested Sunday for carrying a firearm without authorization, possession of ammunition and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, the Virgin […]
UVI Hosts Marine Debris Curriculum Workshops for 37 USVI Educators
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) hosted two educator workshops to demonstrate hands-on, interactive lessons from the newly released USVI Marine Debris Curriculum. The curriculum includes 12 lessons for middle and high school students and highlights marine debris composition and abundance, sources and transport, impacts, and solutions. It also spotlights 16 locally […]
St. Thomas-St. John Historic Preservation Committee Meeting
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The St. Thomas- St. John Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) said that its scheduled monthly meeting will be held tomorrow (Tuesday, July 12, 2022) at 1:00 PM. It will take place via Microsoft TEAMS, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The public is invited to attend. However, joining a TEAMS meeting requires an e-mail address. […]
Stanley Jacobs Becomes USVI’s First Winner of NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Commissioner Jean Pierre Oriol said that Virgin Islands cultural ambassador Stanley Jacobs, PhD has been awarded the 2022 National Endowment of the Arts National Heritage Fellowship. Jacobs is the first Virgin islander that has been awarded this esteemed honor. The National Endowment for the Arts is continuing its long history of honoring […]
Bayside Walking Tour To Feature DPNR Park Ranger John Farchette
GREEN CAY — Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources said that the Division of Coastal Zone Management will host a Bayside Walking Tour on Friday, June 24th at Chenay Bay -West (Tamarind Reef entrance) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The walking tour will be led by Park Ranger […]
People With Respiratory Problems Urged To Avoid Sahara Dust
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources is informing the public of an air pollution alert for dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa. The dust causes the skies around the Virgin Islands to be hazy, which reduces the visibility and results in poor air quality. This […]
Senate Committee Gets Updates On Disaster Repairs
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Members of the Committee on Disaster Recovery and Infrastructure, led by Senator Janelle Sarauw met at the Earle B Ottley Legislative Hall on Friday. The Committee received testimony from the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources related to all disaster related projects, including marine and historic efforts in the Territory, […]
Queen Conch Season Over Until November
Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources said that the annual queen conch seasonal closure begins today for the St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John Districts, as established by regulation effective July 1, 2008. Harvesting of queen conch is prohibited from June 1, 2022, through October 31, 2022. Possession of […]