ST. CROIX — Following growing concern over rum fungus visible on the street, directional and speed limit signs on highways from mid-island to Frederiksted, and on homes in the same area, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources has organized a town hall meeting as it seeks to hear from residents before taking action against the two rum companies responsible for the ongoing problem.
DPNR Acting Commissioner Dawn L. Henry, Esq., during testimony in June before the Senate Committee on Health, Hospital and Human Services, said DPNR’s Division of Environmental Protection would be pursuing enforcement action against Diageo and Cruzan Rum under a nuisance claim, which Henry explained deals only with determining the affected areas and the cleanup thereof.
She said DPNR had no mechanism in place to detect how much ethanol is being released into the environment; and the department had no plans to purchase equipment to aid in that regard. Henry, however, said she would look into the possibility of purchasing such equipment after Sen. Kurt Vialet, chairman of the aforementioned committee, made the request.
The town hall will be held at the University of the Virgin Islands’ theater from 6:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m.
For more information contact the DPNR’s Division of Environmental Protection at (340) 773-1082.
Feature Image: Street sign in Estate Cane Carlton
Tags: dpnr, rum fungus st. croix, town hall meeting
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