Connect with us

Federal

HUD Nods to VIHFA Amendment, Paving Way for $145M to Acquire Vitol Facilities at WAPA Stations

Published

on

The U.S. Virgin Islands strides forward in bolstering its energy framework following Governor Albert Bryan’s disclosure on Wednesday evening that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has endorsed the amendment proposed by the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA).

This endorsement gestures towards, yet does not assure, the allocation of $145 million from Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds aimed at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s (WAPA) acquisition of Vitol infrastructure at the WAPA facilities on St. Croix and St. Thomas.

In a statement released the same day, VIHFA articulated that this approval of the Significant Amendment marks the initial phase in unlocking the $145 million in mitigation capital. The amendment stipulates WAPA’s obligation to sustain lower fuel prices, enhance fuel security, and address the susceptibility of the territory’s fuel storage against future calamities.

Acting as HUD’s grantee, VIHFA will oversee WAPA to ensure the utility unveils its reliability metrics; showcases the financial capacity to uphold and run the propane infrastructure over its lifespan (20 years); preserves the territory’s access to diversified fuel sources; and confirms that WAPA employs its most dependable contemporary generators to boost power reliability.

The subsequent step entails VIHFA submitting its policy and protocol for managing these funds to HUD for examination and endorsement. VIHFA will collaborate with WAPA to refine the application and initiate an environmental review, ensuring adherence to all federal and local regulatory stipulations and performance benchmarks.

This endorsement symbolizes a remarkable stride in the administration’s endeavors to reinforce the Virgin Islands’ energy framework and ameliorate utility service, as stated by the Government House. Transitioning the LPG assets from Vitol to WAPA’s control is viewed as a tactical move that will grant WAPA heightened control over fuel supply and more proficient fuel cost management.

Moreover, by assuming control of these propane facilities, WAPA can better focus on its principal strategic goals and resilience-oriented projects, noted the Government House. A substantial portion of these initiatives includes the bold scheme to broaden the integration of renewable energy within the grid system.

Reflecting on the importance of this progression, Governor Bryan remarked, “Rectifying a system impaired for six decades is no trivial endeavor. It demands dedication, vigilance, political valor, and above all, collaboration. I extend my gratitude once more to the members of the 35th Legislature who endorsed the credit line essential to realize this plan, and the leadership teams at HUD, VIHFA, and WAPA for their steadfast efforts in reaching this juncture.”

This acquisition symbolizes not merely an infrastructural enhancement but also a pledge of upgraded service delivery by WAPA. The maneuver is foreseen to yield more cost-efficient and effective services to ratepayers, serving the wider interests of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ residents.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Federal

Plaskett’s Bill to Honor Virgin Islands Hero Passes House

Published

on

In a notable legislative milestone, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett successfully led the passage of a bill through the House to rename a post office in St. Croix in honor of a distinguished local military figure.

The bill, designated H.R. 5034, proposes renaming the post office located at 2119 Market Square in Christiansted as the “Lieutenant General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office.”

Lt. General Samuel E. Ebbesen, a native of St. Croix, is renowned for his extensive military service, business acumen, and community leadership. His illustrious military career includes commanding the First Brigade, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and the 6th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He also served as the commander of the Second U.S. Army at Fort Gillam, Georgia.

Expressing his appreciation for the honor, Lt. General Ebbesen said, “I continue to be humbled by the efforts of Representative Stacey Plaskett and her office to honor my service. Being present to witness us being one step closer to the designation of the Market Square, Christiansted Post Office in my name is truly an honor.”

Ms. Plaskett emphasized the significance of acknowledging Lt. General Ebbesen’s exemplary life and service, stating, “The naming of the Market Square Post Office on St. Croix as the Lt. General Samuel E. Ebbesen Post Office will enshrine his legacy and serve as a testament to the thousands of Virgin Islanders who answer the call to duty in our armed forces. Recognizing Lt. General Ebbesen’s service through this federal building designation is important.”

With its passage in the House, the bill will now move to the Senate for consideration. If approved, it will be sent to President Biden for his signature into law.

Continue Reading

Federal

U.S. DOJ Moves to Reschedule Marijuana to Ease Criminal Penalties

Published

on

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that Attorney General Merrick Garland has initiated a process to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This proposed rulemaking, submitted to the Federal Register, could significantly change marijuana’s legal status, reduce federal criminal penalties, and acknowledge its accepted medical use in the U.S.

Marijuana has been a Schedule I drug since the CSA was enacted in 1970. On October 6, 2022, President Joe Biden requested a scientific review of marijuana’s classification. Following recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August, Garland sought legal guidance from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). Based on HHS’s findings and OLC’s advice, the Attorney General has now begun the rulemaking process to reclassify marijuana.

Rescheduling a controlled substance involves a formal procedure that includes public notice, an opportunity for comment, and an administrative hearing. During this process, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will collect and review public input to make a final determination. Until then, marijuana remains a Schedule I substance.

Historically, marijuana’s classification has faced numerous legal challenges and petitions for rescheduling. Initially classified as Schedule I, marijuana was deemed to have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of safety under medical supervision. Despite various attempts to change this status, the DEA has repeatedly denied such requests, adhering to its five-part test for determining a drug’s “currently accepted medical use” (CAMU).

The recent HHS recommendation was based on a two-part inquiry: assessing whether licensed healthcare providers widely use marijuana for medical purposes and whether there is credible scientific support for at least one medical use. HHS concluded that marijuana meets these criteria, supporting its reclassification to Schedule III.

This potential rescheduling raises several legal and regulatory questions. An April 2024 memorandum from the OLC stated that the DEA’s current approach to determining CAMU is too narrow. The OLC asserted that HHS’s two-part inquiry is sufficient to establish CAMU and emphasized that DEA must give significant weight to HHS’s scientific and medical determinations in the rulemaking process.

Additionally, the memorandum addressed compliance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the CSA. It concluded that neither mandates marijuana’s placement in Schedule I or II, and that DEA can meet international obligations by rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III with appropriate regulatory controls.

The rulemaking process will include public participation, with opportunities for comments and a hearing before a final decision. The outcome could change marijuana’s classification, impacting its legal status and medical use availability in the United States.

Continue Reading

Federal

Court Decision Paves Way for Integration of Caneel Bay Resort into National Park

Published

on

A pivotal ruling from a U.S. Circuit Court judge has mandated the transfer of ownership of the Caneel Bay Resort’s buildings and infrastructure to the U.S. Department of the Interior. This decision enables the National Parks Service to proceed with the redevelopment of the iconic resort.

The legal tussle over the rightful ownership of the property began in 2022, involving EHI Acquisitions LLC and the United States Government. Originating from a unique ownership arrangement crafted between 1977 and 1983, the Caneel Bay Resort was built on a 150-acre tract that was part of a larger 5,000-acre donation to the National Park Service by philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller. While the land was deeded to the National Parks Service (NPS), the buildings remained under the ownership of Rockefeller’s company via a “retained use estate.” This arrangement included an indenture with a reversion clause, offering the government the option to acquire the resort buildings at no cost—otherwise, the land would revert to the resort’s owner.

The legal dispute intensified when EHI, having acquired the retained use estate, claimed full ownership of both the land and resort buildings after the government declined a 2019 offer to assume ownership. EHI interpreted this “offer” as a sales proposition, whereas the government viewed it as a no-cost conveyance.

Judge Cheryl Ann Krause clarified this discrepancy in court, affirming the documents’ explicit intention for the land and improvements to be gifted to the government for a nominal fee of $1, as stipulated in the 1983 indenture. She stated, “To keep the land, the Government would have to accept the offer of the improvements. But if that offer were conditioned on payment, then the Government’s retention of that land, in effect, would also be conditioned on payments…meaning it would no longer be a gift.”

Judge Krause further underscored the non-commercial nature of the transaction, reflecting on the indenture’s clear direction for the integration of the Caneel Bay Resort into the Virgin Islands National Park, aligned with both parties’ philanthropic objectives.

Despite EHI’s arguments that the government intended to spend significantly to re-acquire the resort and their attempt to redefine “offer,” the court found these points unconvincing. Judge Krause dismissed these claims and awarded summary judgment to the United States, confirming that since no valid offer was made by EHI before the expiration of the retained use estate on September 30, 2023, the land’s title remains with the U.S. Government.

This ruling confirms that the government not only retains ownership of the land but also gains title to the resort’s structures, with EHI planning to appeal the decision. This marks a significant step towards the full integration of the Caneel Bay Resort into the national park system, reflecting the original intent of its benefactor.

Continue Reading

Trending