🏛️ Government · St. Croix, VI
Bryan activates National Guard team and VITEMA operations center over St. Croix odor complaints
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said on May 7, 2021, that he had activated the Virgin Islands National Guard's civil support team and VITEMA's Emergency Operations Center in response to complaints from Frederiksted residents about a noxious odor in the air.
The Department of Health and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources began receiving reports of the odor late on May 5, 2021, according to Government House. Bryan said officials were working to identify the contaminant or contaminants and determine the source.
Government House said possible areas of focus included the Limetree Bay Refinery, an asphalt plant and the Anguilla landfill, but that the source and contents of the odor had not been confirmed.
The National Guard team was assigned to join DPNR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in investigating and testing to confirm the source of the odor and identify contaminants.
The complaints came as DPNR and the EPA were investigating a gas emissions release from Limetree Bay Refinery earlier in May 2021.
During a May 7, 2021 briefing, Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion said three people sought treatment at Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center for headache and nausea related to the odor. Government House said Encarnacion advised people with respiratory ailments, including allergies, lung disease or asthma, to consider protective actions such as staying indoors or temporarily relocating to less affected areas.