Overview: On June 30, 2019 the EPA San Juan office received notification of a major fire burning at the Anguilla Landfill on St. Croix. A request was made by the VI DPNR for EPA assistance. The landfill had caught fire the night before and efforts to extinguish it proved unsuccessful; the fire has grown in strength and intensity. The fire is generating thick, black smoke, chemical odors, and large quantities of particulate matter. The VI government requested emergency EPA assistance to conduct air monitoring of the smoke plume to inform the nearby communities and make recommendations to local authorities for a contingency evacuation plan. The fire has become a significant health concern to local authorities because the smoke and fumes may adversely impact down-wind communities and the nearby airport. Local fire officials, the VI Waste Management Authority (VIWMA), and the VIDPNR are among the first responders at the scene.
The Region 2 REOC has responded to the request for assistance and deployed a team from its technical contractor in Edison NJ to initiate air monitoring and air sampling at the scene. Region 2 has dispatched an OSC from its CEPD office in San Juan PR to coordinate EPA response activities at the scene. EPA-ERT (Edison) is on standby to provide additional scientific/technical support as requested. The Edison REOC is providing admin and logistics support and is coordinating Regional resources in connection with this response. Media interest is High for this incident.
