Bryan met with FEMA administrator in Washington on Jan. 28

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. met with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in Washington on Jan. 28, 2022, to discuss the status of recovery projects in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the pace of FEMA approval processes, according to Government House.

Government House said the meeting followed discussions the two held in May 2021 at Government House on St. Croix about the Conditional Letter of Map Revision permit for the Paul E. Joseph Stadium project, the territory’s hospitals, school reconstruction, and wastewater and drinking water upgrades.

According to the statement, the territory received CLOMAR approval for the stadium project in October 2021, allowing construction to resume, and FEMA approved $242 million for construction of the new Arthur A. Richards K-8 School. In December 2021, FEMA also approved replacement of St. Croix’s sewer system after determining the island’s sewersheds were eligible for replacement following the 2017 hurricanes.

Government House said Bryan raised concerns about the pace of Fixed Cost Offers for major projects, including schools and hospitals, and again sought a waiver of the federal 10% cost share requirement. The statement said Criswell was noncommittal on the waiver request but agreed to review an appeal Bryan submitted on Dec. 27, 2021.

FEMA leadership also committed to review agency processes to help move the territory’s projects forward more quickly, according to Government House.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-meets-with-fema-administrator-in-washington/