Attachment JL.20, Vieques Program Overview PowerPoint Presentation.pdf

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Agenda Background Project Team Strategic Approach Environmental Sites Munitions Sites Issues

• Natural Resources

• Land Reuse

• Open Detonation

Path Forward

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Vieques Environmental Restoration Program

May 25, 2021

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Background

1945-1999: Multi-purpose live-fire training, ammunition support

2001: West Vieques transferred

• Municipality of Vieques (4,249 acres)

• Department of Interior (DOI), to be managed by Fish and Wildlife Service (3,058 acres)

• Puerto Rico Conservation Trust (800 acres)

2003: East Vieques (14,600 acres) transferred to DOI for FWS management

• Live Impact Area (LIA) established as Wilderness Area with no public access

DOI / FWS

DOI / FWS

Former Training Range

Background (Continued)

2005: Vieques placed on National Priorities List (NPL) or “Superfund” 2007: FWS Land Use Plan (Comprehensive Conservation Plan) finalized

• Munitions cleanup supports future land use

2008: Federal Facilities Agreement signed by EPA, Puerto Rico, DOI, Navy

• Provides administrative framework for the cleanup work

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Naval Ammunition Support Detachment

VNTR Vieques Naval Training Range EMA Eastern Maneuver Area SIA Surface Impact Area LIA Live Impact Area ECA Eastern Conservation Area

Project Team: Vieques Cleanup Team Regulatory Agencies and Other Stakeholders

• Participants from Vieques, Puerto Rico, and US Senior management, project managers, technical experts, the public Technical meetings

Decisions made by consensus of all team members

• CERCLA process ensures all points of view are considered Public meetings Public comment

Winner of the Secretary of Defense Environmental Restoration Team Award, 2016, 2018, and 2020

,DNER

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Strategic Approach To Environmental Restoration Program at Vieques

• Top priorities – safety, risk reduction, efficiency, cost effective solutions

• CERCLA process followed

• Munitions Clearance Land first (hazard is higher on land than underwater) Reduce explosive hazard and environmental risk

• Ecological resources Protect endangered species, sensitive habitat Consultation with natural resources agencies

(Puerto Rico DNER, FWS, NMFS)

• Innovative Approaches

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Environmental Sites Progress to Date

29 Sites and 25 Potential Areas of Concern (PAOCs)

• 26 Sites and all PAOCs complete with No Further Action (NFA)

• 2 groundwater sites and 1 landfill site in progress

SWMU 6 disposal area

• Cleanup response complete with NFA (2018)

PFAS

• 15 potential sites identified for further inspection

• All drinking water comes from mainland

SWMU 6 before removal action SWMU 6 currently

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Munitions Response Sites

Types of munitions found on Vieques

• Bombs, mortars, projectiles, rockets, grenades, submunitions, flares, etc.

• Mostly high explosive UXO

Toxic chemical munitions are not found on Vieques

• Training exercises did not involve chemical weapons

• Note RFP covers other locations, not just Vieques

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Surface clearance

• 4,200 acres cleared of munitions

• 8.2 million pieces of MPPEH processed

• 118,000 munitions items removed

Sub-surface clearance

• 12 miles of roads, 11 miles of beaches

Scrap metal

• 19 million lbs processed, 17 million lbs recycled

Munitions Response Sites Progress to Date

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Beach Clearance

FWS plans to open most beaches

• People want access to beaches more than inland areas

Beach clearance to a depth of 4 feet

• Includes sandy areas and turtle nesting habitat

• Hurricane Maria did not expose or move munitions onto previously cleared beaches

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Public Beaches

Previous Removal Action at Blue Beach

• Performed in 2014 after munitions found in adjacent areas

• 26 munitions items removed

• Mortar, electric blasting caps, flares, grenades, practice anti-tank mine

• Archaeological sites

• Finds included pottery, glass, shell, lithics

• Endangered Species

• Endangered plants, sea turtle nests avoided

Red Beach Removal Action underway

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Cleanup is just beginning for underwater sites

• Wide Area Assessment completed across 12,000 acres

• Removal actions for high visibility munitions items

• Off shore of SWMU 4 (western Vieques)

• Around Cayo La Chiva (near Blue Beach)

• Island-wide underwater removal action initiated in 2019

Ecological preservation vs. explosive hazard

• Biological Assessment to protect endangered species

(coral, sea turtles) and valuable habitats

Safety for workers (divers), public

04/02/2016

Munitions Response Sites Munitions Underwater

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Munitions constituents (MC)

• Explosive chemicals and metals, subject to CERCLA cleanup

• MC concentrations on Vieques are similar to other ranges (EPA 2012)

• Explosives mostly non-detect; the few detections are at very low concentrations

• Metals naturally occurring

MC underwater

• MC detected within breached munitions, but not detected a few feet away

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) studies

• Eating land crabs does not pose a risk to human health

• No explosive compounds in conch or lobster

04/02/2016

Munitions Response Sites Munitions Constituents

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Natural Resources

Preservation of natural resources is a top priority

• Avoidance of endangered plants, coral, and sea turtle nests

• Preservation of desirable vegetation and critical habitat

Navy and FWS collaboration

• FWS review of proposed work areas

• Habitat restoration after munitions clearance

• Sea turtle monitoring

Collaboration with other natural resources agencies

• NOAA participates in technical meetings

• Consultation with National Marine

Fisheries Service (NMFS)

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Facilitating Land Reuse

Accelerated cleanup at high priority sites

• The public is pushing for access, especially to beaches

• Seeking more economic opportunities

Successful opening of historic lighthouse at Puerto Ferro

• Munitions cleared from beaches, trails, and lighthouse area

• Public access accelerated by 7 years

Other possibilities

• Former OB/OD area (SWMU 4)

• Punta Carenera trails and beaches

Historic Lighthouse

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Open Detonation: Why Used on Vieques

No health risk to Vieques residents or visitors

• Based on site specific sampling and general studies by Navy, EPA, and other agencies

Safest for the site workers

• Requires little or no handling of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

• Blow in Place (BIP) is used for UXO too dangerous to move

• Other UXO may be carried short distances (up to 100 feet) for consolidated detonation

Safest for the public

• Cleanup can be completed

• Addresses the risk to residents and tourists

• Without open detonation

• Most munitions would need to be left in place

(too powerful for a detonation chamber or too dangerous to touch)

• The cleanup could not be completed as required

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Top Priorities are Health and Safety

Path Forward

Short term

• Continue to clear high risk areas on land

• Focus on beaches and other priority areas

• Remove underwater munitions in high risk areas

Long term

• Complete work on land in 10 years

• Complete underwater work in 15 to 20 years

• Provide long term management

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