Federal emergency declaration approved for St. Croix water response

Government House said on November 20, 2023, that President Joe Biden had approved the U.S. Virgin Islands' request for a federal emergency declaration related to elevated lead and copper levels in the St. Croix water supply.

VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen said during the weekly briefing that Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. was notified on the evening of November 18, 2023, that the request had been approved. Jaschen said the declaration made technical assistance available from federal agencies beyond the Environmental Protection Agency to help the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority determine and apply temporary actions in the affected community.

Officials also said 1,598 clean water vouchers had been distributed on St. Croix as of 5 p.m. on November 20, 2023, after a three-day distribution effort. Government House said more than 1,200 vouchers were distributed over the weekend and that 50 pre-registered WAPA customers who were eligible had not picked them up.

Territorial Epidemiologist Dr. Esther Ellis said 390 children had completed initial finger-prick blood lead screening as of the morning of November 20, 2023, and no positive blood lead tests had been identified. She said 15 children were flagged for follow-up venous testing, with results from seven returning below the level of concern and eight still pending.

During the briefing, Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. said the public comment period on proposed legislation addressing abandoned and derelict buildings was scheduled to close on November 24, 2023.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/federal-emergency-declaration-announced-during-weekly-briefing/