The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett recently called for a meeting with Gov. Kenneth Mapp to discuss a report from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of the Inspector General.
The report stated that the USVI's environmental programs are poorly managed, which could put federal funding at risk unless these deficiencies were addressed and fixed. According to a report from Plaskett's office, the EPA award the USVI up to $2 million a year in environmental program grants.
“When my office was made aware that several of our government agencies were deemed 'high-risk' for federal funding, I immediately brought this matter and the potential outcomes to the attention of Gov. Mapp," Plaskett said. "Given this latest report from the EPA, I will be meeting with the governor on Monday to discuss his plans to correct these concerns and also explore ways that my office may assist our local government in avoiding the potential loss of this critical funding.”
The EPA reports indicate issues with underground storage and leaking and compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act programs. According to the report, a number of vulnerabilities have been reported with the USVI's environmental programs management.
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