Stench Still Plagues St. Croix Residents After Manhole Is Closed

ST. CROIX, USVI — St. Croix residents are still reporting noxious odors after the open manhole was covered.

The open manhole was discovered last week and the government has been pointing to it as the likely source of the odors affecting residents. The manhole was covered on Monday, however, residents from Estate Profit to Williams Delight complained of the odors on Thursday and Friday. The story was first reported by the St. Thomas Source.

Multiple calls were placed to alert authorities of the odors: eight callers contacted a Reef 103.5 Friday talk show late Thursday night and early Friday morning. And according to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, someone called the Department of Health to report the odor on Friday between 3 and 4 a.m.

Limetree Bay has acknowledged that some of the odors are coming from the refinery, though Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has repeatedly suggested that there are be other sources to blame.

The odors were previously tied to flaring incidents at the Limetree Bay refinery. Limetree remains closed by order of the Environmental Protection Agency, but the refinery must continue to clear its lines of residue. Flaring is part of that process.

Be the first to know. Click here to get U.S. Virgin Island Patch's free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.