St. Croix Residents Advised To Take Precautions From Odor

ST. CROIX, USVI —The Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency sent an alert to residents of St. Croix to be aware of the continued odor in the mid-island and Frederiksted area.

The gaseous odor has been affecting the areas around the Limetree Bay refinery for several days. Multiple agencies, including the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, are investigating if the odor and refinery operations are posing any risk to the community.

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The Virgin Islands National Guard Civil Support Team was also called in by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. to assist the EPA and DPNR. The Civil Support Team started by conducting preliminary air quality testing near Limetree Bay on May 8, as reported by the St. Croix Source. The tests turned up elevated levels of sulfur dioxide in the area around the refinery.

Hours later, however, Limetree Bay released a statement that they detected zero concentrations of sulfur dioxide near the St. Croix refinery. In a statement to Reuters, they said industrial hygiene specialists had evaluated the air at five locations to the west and northwest of the refinery and, "this air monitoring detected zero concentration of hydrogen sulfide, zero concentration of sulfur dioxide and zero concentration of hydrocarbons."

The Government House released a follow-up statement confirming that they received additional monitoring instruments from the EPA to aid in the ongoing investigation.

In the meantime, VITEMA advises residents with respiratory ailments, including allergies, lung disease and asthma to consider staying indoors and to seek medical attention if the odor is making you feel sick.

VITEMA also advises residents to report health concerns to the USVI Department of Health, Environmental Health Division at (340) 718-1311 ext. 3709.

To report the smell of a noxious or gaseous odor, please call USVI Department of Planning & Natural Resources at (340) 773-1082 ext. 2221.

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