Page 12 - aruba-today-20170422

A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 22 april 2017

Overflowing landfills choke Puerto Rico amid economic crisis

their capacity as garbage 100 homes and businesses
piles up. within 400 yards (meters) of
“This is a crisis,” said Car- the landfill, which was origi-
men Guerrero, director of nally built in a sinkhole that
the EPA’s Caribbean en- forms part of one of the
vironmental protection largest and most produc-
division. “This is one of the tive groundwater sources
agency’s environmental in Puerto Rico. The land-
priorities in Puerto Rico and fill has since expanded 3
the Caribbean.” acres (1.2 hectares) out-
The EPA has the authority side its boundaries and
to intercede when there’s lacks a system to collect
an emergency situation, liquefied garbage, control
but it is Puerto Rico’s Envi- stormwater runoff or moni-
ronmental Quality Board tor the groundwater to en-
that is supposed to ensure sure it is not contaminating
that landfills comply. It is drinking water.
not clear why this hasn’t A water treatment plant
Trucks deposit garbage at a landfill that has been ordered to close by year’s end, in Toa Alta, happened. Spokesman that lies downstream from
Puerto Rico. Originally built in a sinkhole that forms part of one of the largest and most productive Aniel Bigio did not return the landfill draws some 2
groundwater sources in Puerto Rico, the landfill has since expanded 3 acres (1.2 hectares) outside multiple messages seeking million gallons of water
its boundaries and lacks a system to collect liquefied garbage, control stormwater runoff or moni- comment. daily from a nearby river.
tor the groundwater to ensure it is not contaminating drinking water. Only two of the 13 landfills The plant is closed and
(AP Photo/Danica Coto) the EPA ordered closed being renovated so it can
DANICA COTO “You have to shutter the but a decade-long eco- have done so, while two draw up to 3 million gallons
Associated Press house completely because nomic crisis has prevented others including the one in a day, raising concerns
TOA BAJA, Puerto Rico (AP) you can’t breathe ... If I had that from happening. Toa Baja, where Villa Albizu among residents in that
— At first glance, it looks like the money, I would have Puerto Rico is struggling is located, opened new area.
people have abandoned moved a long time ago.” to restructure a $70 billion areas that meet federal “This is the biggest envi-
this rural community tucked The majority of landfills public debt load that has requirements. The EPA filed ronmental disaster I’ve
into Puerto Rico’s soft roll- across Puerto Rico are over forced the government to its most recent order of clo- ever seen in my life,” said
ing hills: the windows are capacity and groaning declare a state of emer- sure this month, and for the Concetta Calise, who lives
shut, the doors closed and under tons of liquefied gar- gency as its revenues dwin- first time it was done unilat- near the landfill and re-
the gates locked. bage seeping into the trop- dle. Officials say they are erally, meaning there is no cently fought off a plague
But everyone is still here, just ical soil and posing threats barely covering the costs room for negotiation with of flies. “I could not even
sealed inside their homes to to people and the environ- of essential services such the municipality like in pre- open the door. It was hor-
shield themselves from the ment, according to the U.S. as education, health and vious cases. rible. But the mayor of Toa
stench, flies and feral dogs Environmental Protection public safety. “The conditions are so criti- Alta, Clemente Agosto,
of the nearby landfill that Agency. Nineteen of the Municipalities say they sim- cal and the threat so great told The Associated Press
has expanded so much it island’s 29 landfills are vio- ply don’t have the $3 mil- to the population and en- that he can’t meet the
is now just steps away their lating federal laws, yet they lion to nearly $30 million vironment that there was EPA’s deadline because
front doors in Villa Albizu still accept a large portion needed to implement the no other choice,” Guerrero the municipality can’t af-
near Puerto Rico’s north of the 8,500 tons of gar- environmental and engi- said. ford the estimated $15-$20
coast. bage that Puerto Ricans neering measures to close The order states the landfill million to close the land-
“You have no idea what generate daily. The EPA a landfill. The government in Toa Alta, just south of Toa fill. In addition, he said the
it’s like to gulp in that smell has ordered local officials never required municipali- Baja, must close by year’s municipality doesn’t have
24 hours a day, 365 days a to close 13 of those landfills ties to set aside money for end, something that resi- the money to pay for its
year,” said Yahaida Porra- including the one in front of closures, according to the dents there are celebrat- garbage to be taken else-
ta, whose house is roughly Porrata’s home because of EPA. As a result, landfills ing. There are more than where if their landfill closes.
10 steps from the landfill. the health risks they pose, keep expanding beyond “We want to follow the law,
Jamaica probes explosion at resort that killed 1 but they have to give us
time to find the economic
means,” he said. “You just
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaica Fire Brigade He said it occurred Thurs- pliance before allowing it don’t throw a lock on it
Authorities in Jamaica have spokesman Emeleo Ebanks day inside the hotel’s boil- to reopen. and that’s it.”
closed a resort in the popu- told The Associated Press er room and forced the Tourism officials identified While he understands peo-
lar tourist area of Montego on Friday that officials are evacuation of hundreds of the victim as Seduro McIn- ple’s frustrations, he said
Bay following an explosion investigating what caused people. tosh. the municipality is in such
that killed a maintenance the explosion at the Riu Ebanks said firefighters will They said the $60 million dire financial straits he had
manager and injured four Reggae hotel in Montego do a full inspection of the adults-only resort opened to establish a four-day
other employees. Bay. resort to ensure it is in com- in November.q workweek to cut costs.q