Coral Bay Community Council,Inc.

U. S. EPA conducted air quality testing in Coral Bay during 2008 to 2011 in areas suffering from the occasional dump fire smoke. Here are some of the results. Fortunately the contaminants were not found to be at generally dangerous levels, however annoying they were to individuals. http://www.epaosc.org/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=4426.

Links to results: 2008 test results Results not available yet for 2010 and 2011 testing

Update January 2011 - The Tortola Open Garbage Dumpfire Burning Continues.... Read press coverage here: link

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has an outdated over-burdened trash incinerator and fires at their trash dump located less than three miles from Coral Bay. Depending on wind direction, the smoke can drift over Coral Bay and is very unpleasant. EPA currently is conducting air quality monitoring in Coral Bay, at the community's and DPNR's request.

The BVI has been planning to install an additional incinerator with quality scrubbers, but it keeps getting delayed.... This has been going on for several years. Increasing amounts of household garbage are being openly burned at their dumpsite in Pockwood Pond which makes the smoke situation worse with each passing month.

On November 13th, 2009, CBCC was represented during a meeting between the USVI govt and the BVI government over concerns about the delay in installing the incinerator and stopping the dumpfire smoke. Here is the presentation given by Sharon Coldren of CBCC:"Coral Bay's concerns about Tortola Dumpsmoke". The problem is worse today, and citizen efforts to gain governmental attention to this health hazard are escalating

BVI Beacon coverage in Dec 09: link

CBCC continues to monitor this problem. If you experience an episode of dumpfire smoke, please call CBCC's office with your location in Coral Bay, and the date and time, to assist in our monitoring.