The view from the front porch of Ada Vélez’s Guánica, Puerto Rico, home is the same as it was decades ago when she was a little girl.  “I can still see the giant silos of the old fertilizer factory that sits across the bay,” said Vélez, 69, who has lived in her family’s one-story house on Julio Street for her entire life.  “One summer day, when my oldest brother was home on break from college, he went to work at that factory,” she recalled. “On his first day there, he came home covered in black soot. My mom gave him some soap and towels and said to him, ‘You’re not coming into this house like that. Wash yourself and throw your clothes in the trash can. And you’re not going back to that factory.’”  Today, only remnants of the old Ochoa Fertilizer factory remain. But the plant, as well as a now-shuttered chemical manufacturing company and former electrical substation, left something behind that has posed a threat to the health of a small group of Guánica residents like Vélez for decades.  Elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a class of human-made “forever chemicals” so toxic that Congress banned them 45 years ago, now saturate the soil of several commercial and residential properties in Guánica as well as the sediment of Guánica Bay.  Before their manufacture was banned in 1979, PCBs were used widely in electrical equipment such as transformers and fluorescent light ballasts. Kumar, who along with a team of researchers from the University and elsewhere published a study on the health implications of PCBs in Guánica, has traveled to the town of more than 13,000 in southern Puerto Rico on numerous occasions over the past few years, conducting extensive tests of the soil and organizing town hall meetings with residents to help educate them on the dangers of being exposed to PCBs.  He began testing for the chemicals in Guánica’s sediment after learning about previous research conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that revealed elevated concentrations of PCBs in the bay.  “We extensively sampled the bay to see if pollution in the marine environment was making its way to the offshore coral reefs in Guánica Bay, and that’s when we discovered that really big hotspot of PCBs over by the Ochoa site,” recalled David Whitall, senior principal investigator at NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.  Kumar and his team quickly got involved, traveling to Guánica as part of their efforts to address the health impacts of PCBs. They not only recorded high levels of the chemical in soil but also elevated levels of heavy metals, organochlorine pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The researchers also discovered high levels of PCBs in fish caught from the bay. But it was blood samples taken from 150 Guánica residents that alarmed Kumar the most. Eighty-six percent of those samples contained levels of PCBs.  In September 2022 the location was added to the Superfund list, and last year, in March 2023, Kumar and dozens of Guánica residents got the news they had long hoped for. The EPA announced that it had reached an agreement with the Guanica-Caribe Land Development Corporation to remove soil contaminated with PCBs from 19 residential and commercial properties in Guánica.  Cleanup efforts got underway on June 10, and the EPA anticipates that excavation at those 19 properties will be completed in October, according to Guillermo Hernandez-Lopez, remedial project manager for the EPA’s Caribbean Environmental Protection Division in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.  Still, some Guánica residents have expressed concerns that the cleanup effort is not extensive enough.  “Out of the multitude of houses that are in the vicinity of the bay and in the vicinity of what used to be a chemical manufacturing plant, I find it hard to believe that only 19 properties have been identified as units that warranted cleanup,” said Edgardo Cruz, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who was born in Guánica and still lives there in the house where he was raised.  “My neighbor’s house across the street has been designated as needing to be cleaned up, but not my residence. And I live only 30 feet away from her,” Cruz said. While the current cleanup is a short-term response to address immediate threats, the EPA is in negotiations with Guanica-Caribe and three other potentially responsible parties to conduct a feasibility study at the site that will evaluate permanent solutions for areas found to be contaminated with PCBs and other hazardous substances, according to Hernandez-Lopez.  Kumar’s work measuring and recording dangerously high levels of chemicals in Guánica’s sediment and air continues. He recently traveled to the town to deploy more air samplers on the roofs of homes and to distribute flyers in Spanish and English that inform residents about the dangers of PCBs and heavy metals, and the steps they can take to protect themselves.  Cruz hopes to work with Kumar in partnering with medical schools in Puerto Rico to test more blood samples from Guánica residents. They are concerned about serious illnesses some residents may have contracted because of longtime exposure to contaminants detected in the Ochoa Superfund site. Vélez believes the different forms of cancer that have taken the lives of many of her family members can be linked to the site. “It could be related, or it could just be bad luck. But my mom, my grandfather, a cousin, and an aunt all had and died of cancer, and they lived in Guánica all their lives,” she said. Volume 5 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/frsen.2024.1404323 Decreased water quality in coastal environments due to land alterations by human activities has caused stressed and degraded coral reefs worldwide The consequences of decreased water quality are not limited to coral reefs but also affect the quality of people’s lives by increasing the incidence of diseases so areas highly impacted have been prioritized for management The Guánica Bay Watershed Management Plan was developed to reduce the non-point sources of pollution that arrive at the bay and to protect adjacent coral reefs 15 years have passed since its creation and management actions have not been evaluated The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the management actions implemented in the Guánica Bay watershed the objective of this study was to describe temporal trends (2002–2008 and 2016–2022) of remotely sensed diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (Kd490) in one managed (Guánica Bay) and three non-managed (Guayanilla Bay and Guanajibo River) estuaries in Southwestern Puerto Rico This was achieved by integrating ocean-color satellite imagery from MERIS-Envisat and OLCI-Sentinel-3 sensors that were sampled using a beyond-Before-After-Control-Impact (beyond-BACI) approach An additional oceanic site was selected to evaluate continuity between sensors estimates The imagery was processed using SNAP to extract Kd490 values in the estuaries The analysis for the beyond-BACI found significant differences between periods (before and after) but the changes were unique to each location within estuary The lowest Kd490 values and variability within estuary was observed in Guánica (range 0.05–0.1 m-1) and the highest Kd490 values were observed in Guayanilla (0.35 m-1) The southern estuaries showed similar temporal trends all having a peak in 2018 and a trough in 2020 Kd490 did not decrease in Guánica after the implementation of management actions which can be related to the passage of several hurricanes during the after period Further analysis should be done as new data is available and after the implementation of the last management actions suggested in the plan which include the application of hydroseeding (2013–2017) training farmers on Best Management Practices (BMP) and shade coffee farming and the creation of infiltration systems in farms using native trees and vetiver grass (2010–2016) the restoration of the Guánica Lagoon and the creation of the treatment wetlands which were the first two most important recommendations from the management plan had not yet been implemented by the end of this work Assessment of watershed management requires integrating a broad range of spatial and temporal data (Wang et al., 2016). Although no reports assessing the effectiveness of the management actions in Guánica were found, refinements and suggestions to improve the management plan considering stakeholder concerns have been made (Carriger et al., 2013; Smith et al., 2017) the goal of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of the management actions implemented from the Guánica Bay Watershed Management Plan created to protect adjacent coral reefs using remote sensing techniques We aimed to describe temporal trends of the diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (Kd490) in one managed (Guánica Bay) and three non-managed (reference) estuaries in Southwest Puerto Rico before and after the implementation of the Guánica Bay Watershed Management Plan It is noteworthy to mention that during the after period of this study the following major events affected our area of study: Hurricanes Irma and María in 2017 the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak and associated lockdowns and a magnitude 6.4 earthquake near Guánica all of which could result in decreased human impact in the watershed and coastal waters If management actions implemented in the Guánica Bay watershed have been effective it was expected that: i) values of Kd490 decreased in Guánica Bay after the implementation of management actions and ii) this temporal change would be observed only in Guánica Bay as compared to reference estuaries It is important to note that the matter in question was not to compare estuaries as they are part of different watersheds and might change through time but to detect whether trends in Guánica Bay were unique when compared to reference estuaries which could be attributable to the implementation of management actions to this watershed Map of the study area in Southwest Puerto Rico consisting of one managed estuary (Guánica Bay) and three not managed estuaries (1: Guanajibo River Map showing the four estuaries selected for the study with the locations and their bathymetries The red arrows indicate the river mouths and where the bathymetry layer ends it is the shelf break The beyond-BACI approach used to evaluate management efforts for the Guánica Bay Watershed The plot boxes indicate the number of pixels selected for analysis at each location (3) at each location the plot consisted of three pixels randomly selected instead of a pixel box avoiding land and bottom reflectance interference due to limitations in the spatial resolution of the satellite sensors (300 m) used for the proposed study sites It uses a ratio of the irradiance reflectance at 490 nm and 560 nm: Workflow used to download and process satellite imagery using the SeNtinel Application Platform and to extract Kd490 values in southwest Puerto Rico A total of 269 valid pixels of Kd490 estimates were extracted from the MERIS dataset (2002–2008) and a total of 1,276 estimates were extracted from the OLCI dataset (2016–2022) at the oceanic site to allow comparison between sensors. The analysis to evaluate the continuity of the sensors estimates in the oceanic site shows that there is not a significant change (p = 0.06) between sensor estimates (Table 1) Analysis of variance for the oceanic site of the diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (Kd490) values in the Before (2002–2008) and After period (2016–2022) As for the results of the main goal of this study, the PERMANOVA results indicated that interaction at the lowest level, year by estuary, is statistically significant (p = 0.001) (Table 2); indicating that the patterns of temporal variation were not the same for each estuary (Figure 5) was also significant (p = 0.0001); also indicating that temporal changes detected between periods were unique for each location within estuary The interactions between year and condition and period by condition were not statistically significant (p > 0.05) Permutation multivariate analysis of variance on a mixed multifactorial model for the managed and not managed estuaries before and after the implementation of management actions Kd490 distributions in (A) Guánica Bay The legend to identify each location within estuary is in panel (A) The red line separates the before and the after periods Maps of Southwest Puerto Rico showing the average Kd490 values for the before and after periods with the difference between periods (after-before) The Guánica Bay estuary showed the least variability within locations of all estuaries, having Kd490 values close to 0.1 m-1 in all locations, except in the Far (offshore) location where values were closer to 0.05 m-1 (Figure 5A) Observations from the Before period showed steady trends no increase or decrease of Kd490 at all locations more variability and a subtle upward trend can be observed in all locations except for the Far location and West locations followed similar patterns of temporal variability in the After period more noticeably in the last 5 years an increase of Kd490 can be observed in the 2016–2018 period and a decrease in the 2019–2020 period Guayanilla Bay showed significantly higher Kd490 values, ∼0.3 m-1, in the Close location as compared to the rest of the locations where not much variability was observed (Figure 5B) all locations remained steady throughout time The Close location had noticeable peaks in the 2016–2018 period which showed a ∼0.05 m-1 increase when compared to the rest of the period Similar patterns as those of Guánica Bay can be observed at all locations in the after period where the 2016–2018 period followed an upward trend and the 2019–2020 period followed a downward trend after which it started to increase again the East and West location followed a more similar pattern and closer values than the Before period The second most variable estuary within locations was the Descalabrado River estuary ranging from ∼0.5–0.25 m-1 (Figure 5C) The Before period showed steady trends of Kd490 at the East and Far locations while the Close location showed an upward trend up to 2005 after which it started to decrease similar patterns as the ones described for Guánica and Guayanilla Bays are observed in the Close The 2016–2018 period showed an upward trend and the 2019–2020 period showed a downward trend after which it started to increase The Far location appeared to show a slight decrease of Kd490 for this period The Guanajibo River estuary showed the most variability of Kd490 within locations with a range of ∼0.5–0.3 m-1 (Figure 5D) All of them followed very similar patterns at different amplitudes This estuary was the only where the West location reported the highest Kd490 values The West and Close locations showed a downward trend in the Before period except for the East location where it is not noticeable and no upward or downward trend can be observed This work is a preliminary assessment of the management actions implemented in the Guánica Bay Watershed by 2022, in which the two most important recommendations by the management plan, i.e., restoration of the Guánica Lagoon and construction of treatment wetlands, had not been completed (Viqueira Rios, 2021) Future assessments should be done after the implementation of these two management actions and a more comprehensive analysis that includes other remotely sensed water quality parameters and in situ measurements is recommended to evaluate the Guánica Bay Watershed Management Plan in terms of water quality Results from this work could potentially contribute to determining whether current strategies in the Guánica Bay watershed should be continued Other contributions could include the implementation of management actions in other watersheds with anthropogenic impacts like those of the Guánica Bay Watershed or the refinement of future watershed management plans developed to improve water quality in Guánica Bay and other areas around the world The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research This publication was made possible by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Education Educational Partnership Program under Agreement No or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Acosta-Colón for his valuable feedback during this research and Jenniffer Pérez Pérez for her guidance in image processing Thanks to Isabel Ríos from the Information Technology Center at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus for her support with ArcGIS Pro software and to Clark E Sherman for his input to coastal sediment processes and the NCCOS team for their training and help during Kd490 evaluation efforts in Puerto Rico The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsen.2024.1404323/full#supplementary-material Coastal water quality impact of stormwater runoff from an urban watershed in Southern California PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Alhammoud, B.MERIS Validation Team (2019). 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Alba L. Guzmán-Morales, YWxiYS5ndXptYW4yQHVwci5lZHU= Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher. 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish. Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. of cocaine worth over $11 million near Puerto Ricoby Gershon Harrell (CBS12) — The United States Coast Guard (USCG) seized over 900 lbs of cocaine worth more than $11 million See also: 1st suspect in Valentine's Day shooting at Gardens Mall sentenced in federal court crews found the cocaine on Tuesday after a U.S Customs and Border Protection aircrew saw a boat Crews were able to stop the boat approximately 70 miles Southwest of Guanica The cocaine was offloaded at Base Miami Beach where they uncovered 990 lbs Cover Page Legal HistorySports SearchAccused ‘suitcase killer’ admitted to prisonThe San Juan Daily StarNov 12 20241 min readPreliminary hearing set for Nov has been charged in the killing in the form of femicide of 37-year-old Annette Gaya Concepción (Facebook via Puerto Rico Police Bureau)By The Star Staff was admitted to prison Monday after not being able to post bail that had been imposed on charges of murder in the form of femicide in connection with an incident reported last Friday citizens showed up at the Guánica police station to report the discovery of a black suitcase-type parcel in front of Aurea Quiles School in the southwestern coastal town they found the lifeless body of Annette Gaya Concepción Judge Shakira Lebrón of the Ponce Court found cause for arrest against Vega Ayala and set bail at $800,000 The accused man was admitted to the Las Cucharas Correctional Complex in Ponce The preliminary hearing was scheduled for Nov a total of 48 women had been murdered on the island so far this year 22 have been classified as direct or collateral femicide © 2025 The San Juan Daily Star - Puerto Rico A University of Miami research found a carcinogenic contaminant in the blood samples of 86% of the people who participated in the study It is also the first confirmation that the chemical substance is also in the air Two years after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) included an area in Guánica on its Superfund program priority list an independent public health study revealed that town residents have blood levels of 2,651% polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) higher than the average found by federal health agencies in people in the United States which was released to the community by public health researcher at the University of Miami also found that there are concentrations of the chemical in the air which leads to a route of exposure to the contaminant that had not yet been confirmed 86% of blood samples taken from 150 residents of Guánica showed detectable levels of PCBs People over 60 had the highest concentrations confirming the cumulative nature of the contaminant in the body The scientist announced the findings to the community last week at a meeting accompanied by professors from the University of Puerto Rico’s Medical Sciences Campus Guánica residents showed as much as 27,510 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) of the carcinogen in their blood according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) normal concentrations in the body usually do not exceed 1,000 pg/mL We’ve heard for a long time about PCB contamination but never in all the meetings we’ve been to has anyone ever explained to us how harmful they are,” said Benjamín Toro who grew up facing the Guánica Bay and is a skin cancer survivor “The people here don’t represent [in quantity] the population of the town of Guánica but what have the Puerto Rico  and federal governments done to warn  people to take care of themselves We have a situation that I’m realizing today is bigger than I thought,” he added PCBs are persistent organic pollutants (POPs): They remain in the environment because they are resistant to deterioration but the EPA prohibited their manufacture in 1977 the concentration of the chemical in the US population has decreased however it has been detected in populations near industries that used it places that have been declared as Superfund The contamination in the area is not limited to the former factory’s location but the contaminant has moved to the bay through run-off rainwater representing the main source of exposure as several University of Miami investigations revealed of which the EPA and the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board has been aware of since 2000 the scientist met with the EPA’s Caribbean Division which coordinates the long-term cleanup of the affected area to provide them with the details of his study “EPA staff assigned to the project are evaluating this data while we await the rest of the data from Dr Kumar’s findings reinforce EPA’s data and support EPA’s recommendation to exercise caution in the use of Guánica Bay,” the agency said in writing to CPI The EPA states that “PCB mixtures changes following their release into the environment The types of PCBs that tend to bioaccumulate in fish and other animals and bind to sediments happen to be the most carcinogenic components of PCB mixtures people who ingest PCB-contaminated fish or other animal products and contact PCB-contaminated sediment may be exposed to PCB mixtures that are even more toxic than the PCB mixtures contacted by workers and released into the environment,” the agency states on its website Participants in the University of Miami research study were asked about the chronic health conditions they suffered from — options included cancer Kumar identified a connection between the concentration of the carcinogen in the blood of those who suffered from chronic conditions: Those with one to three conditions had the highest levels of PCBs in their blood “High concentrations of the chemical exacerbate the effects of these diseases,” Kumar said He described this as a biomagnification effect According to the National Institute of Environmental Health (NIH), “exposure to PCBs has been linked to chronic inflammatory diseases I was shocked,” said the also air quality specialist when he initially saw the results of the first 50 blood samples he took in 2018 In 2019 he went back to Guánica and took 100 more samples for a total of 150 participants A total of 33 Barrio Ensenada residents and 97 Barrio Pueblo residents participated in the University of Miami study; 20 people did not specify their address The scientist and his team collected the data with the support of the Protectores de Cuencas (Basin Protectors) organization between 2018 and 2019 The National Institutes of Health’s Superfund research program and the University of Miami  funded the study, which is based on research carried out since 2013, so that the EPA would include Guánica on the list of priorities to be decontaminated in the United States after the world’s second-highest concentration of PCBs in sediment was found — after St Canada — contaminating the food chain and air “All [participants] were asked if they consumed fish and those who only consumed the filet [of the fish] showed lower levels [of PCBs] versus those who consumed all its parts although the finding was not significant statistically Kumar recommended that Guánica residents ensure that the fish they consume have been caught outside of Guánica Bay which showed concentrations of less than 0.5 parts per million (ppm) lower than the safe limit established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — 2ppm The EPA has been waiting for more than a year for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to identify the routes of exposure of the chemical that affects the population in Guánica ATSDR has documented that PCBs “public health concern because they persist in the environment and potentially can cause chronic or delayed toxicity.” It is up to the EPA to carry out the emergency removal, which should have started in January, but has not yet begun “The work includes soil removal and additional investigation of PCBs in the soil of residential and commercial properties west of PR-333 [which borders the community] as well as the evaluation of any rain runoff from the property,” the EPA explained in written statements Kumar confirmed that the contaminant was found in the air “PCB concentrations in the air on the bay coast were eight times higher than the concentration monitored in Yauco because this contaminant can also evaporate Air sampling stations he placed on the roofs of three bayfront properties in the boardwalk area recorded 792 883 and 1,146 picograms per cubic meter per day It was observed that houses that are receiving easterly winds — where the most contaminated area is — are hit with more PCBs in the air but it is unknown how much reaches the Ensenada neighborhood on the west coast of the bay since the area was not part of the study The EPA does not establish safe exposure limits for PCBs in outdoor air, but it does establish safe exposure limits for indoor air with a maximum of 500,000 picograms per cubic meter the chemical concentration in the air does not seem to be so significant on a daily basis people exposed in the long term could see their health affected since the PCBs also accumulate in the body Kumar’s work began in 2013 with one goal: To decipher what the presence of PCBs in Guánica Bay was about After finding the second highest concentration of this carcinogen in the world there he dedicated his work to helping the site be investigated and included in the priority list of the EPA’s Superfund program Kumar has been waiting for the NIH to extend funding to investigate concentrations of the chemical in the air around the entire bay Parte 1: Local, federal governments remain mum about substance posing carcinogenic threat in Guánica Bay Part 2: Cleanup of Guánica Land Polluted with chemical substances is yet to begin Para hacer que investigaciones como esta sigan siendo posibles Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Necesitamos tu apoyo para seguir haciendo y ampliando nuestro trabajo El CPI reconoce que el requisito fundamental para una verdadera democracia es que la ciudadanía esté bien informada y que existan entidades independientes con la capacidad de fiscalizar los poderes que accionan en la sociedad Si tiene una solicitud de investigación, queja, aclaración, 'orejita', prueba, inquietud, u observación sobre alguna información publicada por el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, escriba al correo electrónico [email protected] Los donativos que recibe el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo están exentos de contribuciones en Puerto Rico y Estados Unidos NFWF has partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to execute watershed conservation efforts to benefit coral reef health in Guanica NFWF has funded on-the-ground projects since 2009 to reduce land-based sources of pollution and improve management capacity This partnership is part of a larger effort of the U.S This video highlights the key elements and outcomes of the partnership in the Rio Loco Watershed and Guanica Bay This video is in Spanish with English subtitles Hundreds of animal and plant species live in Puerto Rico’s 9,000 acres of dry forest This article is a part of a series created by United Voices, a new AFAR immersion program that brings together local content creators and AFAR editors for workshops, reporting stories, and experiencing a destination together. We make our debut in Puerto Rico expertly maneuvering from treetop to treetop Her eyes darted as she followed its movements “That’s the todus mexicanus,” she whispered “It’s one of 18 endemic bird species in Puerto Rico It took me a moment to spot the bird on the tree its green feathers blending in with the leaves white belly with bold orange detail around its throat and beak gave it away Members of our group let out a gasp as they spotted it Part of the fun of being out in nature was seeing the unseen particularly in a dry forest that by name sounded like it would be barren along with the Puerto Rican woodpecker and Adelaide’s warbler are some of Puerto Rico’s endemic bird species It is among Puerto Rico’s most important ecosystems Because it receives less rain per year compared to other subtropical forests—only around 30 inches—it is considered a dry forest the preserve spans 9,000 acres and five municipalities along the south coast of Puerto Rico: Guanica It sustains everything from mangroves to cacti, from lizards to crabs, and is home to several endangered species. It is a hub for some of the bird species endemic to the island although no one could spot it.) Twelve trails are open to the public each of varying duration and difficulty; some trails are as short as a mile while others stretch to nearly 10 miles roundtrip The only thing the forest lacks are dangerous animals for visitors to be concerned about while hiking San Pedrito became our unofficial shepherd on the tour flying ahead and stopping to wait for us as we hiked 40 minutes up the trail We were gaining elevation on the well-trodden path but I didn’t feel the exertion since it was a mild incline Maldonado led the hiking group as we stopped to learn about using the resin of the guayacan tree to cure respiratory infections and how the yellowing leaves of an almáciga tree indicate an upcoming dry season Fuerte Caprón offers both gorgeous views and insight into the area’s history Eventually, the trail gave way to a vast expanse overlooking the Guanica Bay and beyond that, the Caribbean Sea. On the edge of the cliff was the abandoned Fuerte Caprón a relic from the 1898 Spanish-American war Graffiti on the ruins were a form of protest against colonization and a way to reclaim the structure She led us up a flight of stairs to the top of the fort a spectacular display of orange and red hues The Taino are the Indigenous people of Puerto Rico Maldonado honors them with her markings and connects with them through the forest itself She spoke about her ancestral ties to the land the seriousness of her message was clear: A gift of resources the forest provides for all our fundamental needs as humans—medicinal herbs even the animals that make up the soundtrack to our lives—and deserves our respect “The forest is everything for our people,” Soraya Tours founder Norymar Maldonado (right) shares on the hike The best way to experience the dry forest is to rent a car and drive from San Juan to Guanica. The trip takes a little more than two hours. There is a parking lot at the main entrance. To reach the Fort Capron trailhead, follow along PR-333 until reaching the trailhead Once there, embark on a self-guided tour of the area or reach out to guides like Soraya Tours founder Norymar Maldonado to provide assistance and context. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoid going in the midday sun—sunrise and sunset hikes are best. Entrance to the forest is free but it is only open during daylight hours. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC Volume 5 - 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00303 The benthic and fish communities of the central portion of the Guánica Puerto Rico shelf edge were studied to determine species abundance distributions and species overlap between two depth stratifications A total of 67 fish species belonging to 21 families were identified Similar species richness estimates were observed between depths though fish assemblage composition differed significantly with observable changes in feeding guild contributions of herbivore and omnivore (20 m) to a deeper assemblage composed of piscivores and planktivores (45 m) Coral assemblages consisted of 31 species at 20 m and 11 species at 45 m accounting for 17.0% (±1.76 SE) and 2.6% (±0.89 SE) benthic cover for the altiphotic and mesophotic surveys The altiphotic and mesophotic coral reef communities support different scleractinian coral assemblages with minimal species overlap Altiphotic surveys of sponges yielded a higher species richness than mesophotic and an overall total of 71 species identified from both depths The percent cover of sponges surveyed at altiphotic reefs accounted for 9.0% (±1.04 SE) while the percent cover of sponges surveyed at mesophotic reefs was 14.0% (±1.96 SE) and sponge assemblages are differentiated between 20 and 45 m along the Guánica shelf edge offshore of the Guánica Biosphere Reserve This study represents the first observations for species distributions of adjacent altiphotic and mesophotic coral reef habitats along the Guánica shelf edge as well as provides an annotated species list of the local sponge fauna these results highlight the need for continued environmental stewardship and conservation in the area Site map for the central portion of the Guánica shelf edge Numbers one to eight represent each specific transect area for the shallow (20 m) surveys with the mesophotic (45 m) surveys being done directly adjacent to the shallow surveys who produced an updated systematic list of marine invertebrates from Puerto Rico emphasizing that no major taxonomic revisions of sponges have been done in the last 60 years describe and compare the biological composition along the Guánica shelf edge to: (1) rest if there is a difference in the presence and sponge species between altiphotic (20 m) and mesophotic (45 m) coral reefs and (2) to provide an annotated list of sponges encountered within our surveys since the true diversity of Puerto Rican sponges is currently not known This comparison will give insight into the dynamics of the Guánica MCE which is adjacent to the less impacted and better studied MCEs of La Parguera and whether Guánica could act as a refuge for important coral The maximum distance between randomly selected altiphotic survey sites was roughly 1.5 km (D) JEGH performing visual sponge surveys/collections muta affected by unknown disease or bleached (I–K) Upper mesophotic coral reefs along the Guánica continental shelf edge (45–50 m) A 15 × 3 m belt transect survey, over a standardized 10-min duration, was conducted at each site on SCUBA (Figure 2C) Altiphotic transects (20 m) were run on top of the benthos while mesophotic transects (45 m) were run alongside the slope Skittish fish were documented at the onset of the survey due to their likelihood of diver avoidance; common and cryptic species were targeted for the remainder of the survey along the transect Fish were identified to species and lengths estimated within five cm bins up to 30 cm after which they were classified as greater than 30 cm the point of highest rugosity (area of largest uninterrupted relief perpendicular to the surface of the benthos) was measured to the nearest cm using a 1 m long measuring stick extending 1.5 m to each side (1 × 3 m bin) resulting in 15 rugosity measurements per transect A roving fish survey was conducted simultaneously with the transect survey and rugosity measurement collection to document the presence of meso-predators unlikely to be encountered within the limited spatial scale of the belt transect all meso-predators and lionfish observed were identified to species with lengths estimated to the nearest cm No distance of fish to diver restrictions were placed on the roving surveys The belt-transects and roving survey datasets were then combined into a single dataset for assemblage analysis No length data was ultimately used in the analyses A total of 67 species belonging to 21 families were recorded. Forty-eight species (19 families) were recorded at 20 m depth and 47 species (18 families) were recorded at 45 m depth. A total species list with both frequency of occurrence and density (ind./45 m2) are given in Table 1. Though overall richness is comparable at 20 and 45 m, mean abundance and diversity per transect at the two depths are different (Figure 3) Fifteen of the twenty-one families have higher abundances at 20 m Pomacentridae (9 species) and Serranidae (7) were the most speciose families represented but displayed opposite trends in abundance between the two depths Pomacentridae abundance at 20 m is greater than at 45 m depth while Serranidae abundance is higher at 45 m than 20 m These fish families were followed in decreasing order by Haemulidae (6) Fish data for transect surveys along the central portion of the Guánica shelf edge Differences in fish abundance (Welch's T-test p = 0.001) and diversity (Welch's T-test An average of 59.9 fish and 16.6 species were recorded in all transects with a mean of 77.4 individuals and 19.6 species at 20 m depth and 37.6 individuals and 13.8 species at 45 m depth The fifteen most common fish species for each depth Mean relative abundance of fish feeding guilds in 20 and 45 m surveys Total and relative abundances of fish feeding guilds at 20 and 45 m depth fish surveys A total of 33 coral species were recorded in the 16 transect surveys. Thirty-one species (16 genera) of corals were recorded at 20 m, while eleven species (6 genera) were recorded at 45 m (Table 4) nine species had overlapping distribution between altiphotic and mesophotic surveys The most abundant genera within the altiphotic surveys were Orbicella and Porites The most abundant species in the shallow surveys were Orbicella franksi (N = 185) and Porites astreoides (N = 117) the most abundant genera within the mesophotic surveys were Madracis (N = 49) and Agaricia (N = 58) with the corals Madracis senaria and Agaricia grahamae solely encountered on the 45 m surveys Scleractinian species identified in deep (45 m) and altiphotic (20 m) transect surveys from the central portion of Guánica shelf edge southwest Puerto Rico; ~ 40 m2 was surveyed per depth designation This result was supported by PERMANOVA analysis with a significant division between the depth stratifications (PERMANOVA: df = 1 coral assemblages were not significantly different (PERMANOVA: df = 7 Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) plots of the sponge and fish assemblages surveyed at 16 sites (8 at 20 m and 8 at 45 m depths) at the Guánica shelf edge along the southern coast of Puerto Rico Distances calculated using Bray-Curtis similarities Site characters scaled to goodness of fit (GOF) GOF ranges: Sponge [20 m (0.015–0.040) Average percent cover (+SE) per coral family from both the altiphotic and deep transect surveys along the central portion of the Guánica shelf edge A total of 40 m2 were surveyed per depth stratification and percent cover was calculated in CPCe and tabulated using custom Linux scripts Average percent cover (+SE) of major functional groups from both the altiphotic and deep transect surveys along the central portion of the Guánica shelf edge Marine species identified in altiphotic (20 m) and deep (45 m) transect surveys from the central portion of the Guánica shelf edge ~ 40 m2 was surveyed per depth designation Average percent cover (+SE) per sponge Orders from both the altiphotic and deep transect surveys along the central portion of the Guánica shelf edge demosponges dominated numerically and visually both our altiphotic and mesophotic coral reef benthic surveys NMDS analysis showed two major clusters of sponges, suggesting that depth significantly influenced abundance and composition of sponge species (Figure 5) (PERMANOVA: df = 1 however no significant difference was observed between sites per depth (PERMANOVA: df = 7 Our data shows that fish assemblage differences include a potential beginning transition at shallow from herbivore and omnivore to a deeper assemblage composed of more piscivores and planktivores (Figure 4). Decreased light availability at mesophotic depths limits primary productivity potential for benthic autotrophs, and therefore food availability for grazers (Brokovich et al., 2010; Sherman et al., 2010) coral percent cover decreased while sponge percent cover increased supporting the likelihood of this light availability transition Terrigenous sediment outflow has also been shown to effect benthic community structure both locally (Torres, 2001; Sherman et al., 2010; Appeldoorn et al., 2016a) and along other coastal zones (MacDonald et al., 2016) neither light availability nor bay outflow data were collected in this study therefore the observed changes in benthos and associated fish assemblages cannot be directly attributed to these physical parameters etc.) congregated in the water column just seaward from the top of the Guánica shelf edge (PJS pers the adjacent nature of the altiphotic survey sites to the vertical escarpment of the shelf edge could have minimized the magnitude of change for the observed feeding guild transition which may become more evident with increased cross-shelf surveys the plate-like morphology of Agaricia makes them particularly susceptible to sedimentation as was noticed on several colonies on the 45 m surveys (NMH per muta were the most abundant sponges and major component of the benthic substratum across both depths Of the species which were present across both depths only the inclusion of genetics can decisively determine gene flow and connectivity Given the prevalence of anthropogenic vectors both directly adjacent to Guánica (e.g. Rio Loco System and Guánica Bay) and further east in Ponce (e.g. and the presence of a wide array of unique and ecologically important species we propose increased monitoring from local and federal agencies to protect and include mesophotic coral reef ecosystems within the Guánica Biosphere Reserve and NH contributed equally to the manuscript NS served as the PI of the first three authors and contributed to the theory and interpretation of the data All authors critically revised and approved the final version of the article and Robert Lasley for hosting him at the University of Florida and at the Florida Museum of Natural History following the aftermath of Hurricane Maria (January–May We thank Milton Carlo and Orlando Espinosa who were an integral component of the diving team and provided extensive logistical support throughout field operations JG-H would like to thank The Explorers Club Exploration Fund–Mamont Scholars Program for providing funds to conduct field work as well as Idea Wild for providing two Light & Motion SOLA 1200 lumen lights JG-H thanks Professor Jorge Corredor for supporting The Explorers Club student member application to join this prestigious organization Chaparro for providing funds to purchase a DNA extraction kit Authors thank the Department of Marine Sciences at UPRM for their access to medium size boats as well as boat captains Anibal Santiago and Eduardo Mercado The authors would like to dedicate this manuscript to Angel “negrito” Camacho for his service and commitment to graduate students at Isla Magueyes Research Station who through their suggestions and comments Sponge collecting permit was provided to JG-H by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico (#O-VS-PVS15-MA-00021-22122015) The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2018.00303/full#supplementary-material Alcolado, P. 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Schizas, bnNjaGl6YXNAZ21haWwuY29t † These authors have contributed equally to this work Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish ShareSaveLifestyleTravelWhy You Must Visit The Hidden Side Of Puerto Rico: Rincón, Guánica And PonceByJim Dobson The old town of the city of Ponce in Puerto Rico Driving through the verdant green mountains to the Southwest side of Puerto Rico the landscape filled with stunning beaches and inlets was breathtaking Things are finally starting to look up for Puerto Rico after struggling to recover since Hurricane Maria hit in 2017 Hollywood is also calling with more film productions than ever planning to shoot on the less populated region of the island where tranquil beaches and healthy tropical forests are abundant I was eager to leave busy San Juan to explore another side to the island My first west coast stop was at the famed Rincón Beach widely known as the surfing capital with its reef-lined Atlantic beaches hosting world-class surfing competitions laid back area of Rincón positioned where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world on its Caribbean side A perfect wave breaks along the shores of Rincon Stopping for lunch at the beautiful The Horned Dorset Primavera Hotel was a treat with its 16 luxury suites and villas available for rent With a romantic bar and villas positioned on the crashing waves We dined in the Chateau Rose Restaurant with the charming GM Wilhelm Sack and toured the elegantly furnished villas and Presidential Suite It was nice to spend the afternoon and have massages listening to the waves crash before heading out for more exploring Bedroom suite at The Horned Dorset in Rincon One of my favorite places in Puerto Rico is Guánica it has the largest area of dry coastal forest in the world and is also a UNESCO site Many visitors also love to swim in the La Parguera Biobay where the luminescent marine plankton glows when disturbed by movement Both Rincón and Guánica have become popular with millionaires and entrepreneurs building large waterfront villas overlooking the mangrove forests and neighboring Gilligan's Island We took a boat to the small island which hosts manatees and Hawksbill turtles The calm waters around the island perfect for wading and feeling like your own Robinson Crusoe Our base for a few nights was the stunning Villa Mariposa an exclusive villa positioned in the middle of Guánica’s Dry Forest The large modern villa has five bedrooms and a fantastic infinity pool overlooking the waterfront Directly adjacent to the villa is the Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa Our villa provided a tender to drop us off directly on the pier in front of the hotel where we enjoyed an amazing wine paired dinner of decadent pastas and lamb lollipops at their Restaurante Alexandra and villas and also includes a private three bedroom luxury villa for extended families We enjoyed the resort and its friendly staff so much that we returned for spa treatments in a bungalow over the water This is an excellent property for families wanting to get away from the busy city life for a fun weekend away Beach lounging at the Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa Aerial view of Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa Castillo Serralles is the former residence of the most powerful rum-producing family in Puerto Rico the Serralles Castle is the perfect example of Spanish Revival architecture and is located on a hill in a prized position overlooking the entire city of Ponce We enjoyed rum tasting and my new guilty pleasure appetizer Bacalaitos (fried fish fritters) with Puerto Rico's only female rum master blender Silvia Santiago and I was thrilled to meet a diverse team of talented women who are making it their mission to help bolster the economy and reinvigorate the film community of Puerto Rico (and Ponce) They plan to employ a majority of local crew and work with local universities and charities to give back to the area for their upcoming independent film "Season of the Witches."  "Season of the Witches" filmmakers location scouting in Ponce at Castillo Serralles (L to R) Deborah.. I spoke with director Deborah Riley Draper and writer/producer Sherri Daye Scott on why they decided to film in Ponce nobody thought it would be possible to shoot in Puerto Rico but it made me that much more adamant about shooting there" says writer/producer Sherri Daye Scott "Most filmmakers also have no idea about how great the tax credits are for shooting there and how generous they are in supporting films This is also a way as creatives that we can give back to the island." "Eighty percent of the film's budget will be spent in Ponce," says director Deborah Riley Draper "We will be the first film to shoot Puerto Rico for Puerto Rico since the Hurricane I also want people to remember that this is America and we are supporting our own when we come to Puerto Rico." this hotel is bringing a South Beach vibe to Puerto Rico Many of the rooms and suites are oceanfront but I prefer the Serafina Ocean Terrace or Positano Ocean Terrace for more space The breakfast is one of the very best on the island and the hip atmosphere is what keeps the crowds returning We enjoyed a special wine paired dinner at the beautiful newly reinvented 1919 Restaurant located at the famed Condado Vanderbilt Hotel Its Michelin starred Executive Chef Juan Jose Cuevas prepared a wide variety of locally sourced contemporary light meals building up to hearty entrees for every taste imaginable Kudos to the restaurant and Chef for feeding thousands of hurricane survivors in the weeks following Maria Dinner at 1919 with the amazing team of Arnaldo Martinez (Server) Another one of my favorite places to stay is the stunning Dorado Beach- A Ritz-Carlton Reserve located just 20 miles from the San Juan Airport providing some of the most beautiful private villas and suites or you can choose from 29 spectacular oceanfront villas for the ultimate secluded luxury experience in Puerto Rico Su Casa Villa at Dorado Beach- A Ritz-Carlton Reserve This was one of those amazing journeys where the people became the star It is the courage and resilience of the people of Puerto Rico that are showing what it really means to be a survivor Despite the extreme circumstances of getting their island back to normal they continue to be welcoming and excited to show off the place they are so proud to call home Guanica Bay is where American troops commanded by General Nelson Miles landed on July 25 a stone marker engraved by the 3rd Battalion of the U.S the sleepy seaside town of Guanica is where relationship with the island began during the Spanish-American War takes visitors to the town's waterfront where the invasion began where the American troops commanded by General Nelson Miles landed on July 25 President Wilson signed the Jones-Shafroth Act granting citizenship to people born on the island The law puts Puerto Rico under federal control but doesn't allow the island voting representation in Congress That law started a debate that continues today over what exactly the island's relationship with the U.S there's a new push to fix what many see it as a deeply-flawed relationship Puerto Rico's three political parties have pushed for three basic positions: statehood independence or the status quo or commonwealth status But nearly all Puerto Ricans agree on one thing "Regardless of what ideological twist people may have about 90 to 95 percent of our population really values our citizenship citizenship is that it allows them to travel freely to the mainland hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans migrated to Florida but isn't allowed voting representation in Congress Rossello is with the New Progressive Party He says Puerto Rico's strength is its status as part of the United States "The bad side of it is that we are not a full part of the United States," he says "We're a territory or a colonial territory I'd want Puerto Rico to become the 51st state of the nation." Today the question of Puerto Rico's status is one debated on the campaign trail the push for Puerto Rican independence several times led to violence including an attempt to assassinate President Truman in 1950 and then support for outright independence has declined on the island as the Puerto Rican population has grown on the U.S a Supreme Court decision undercut the island's long-standing claims of autonomy struggling with more than $70 billion in public debt Puerto Rico was forced to hand over financial control to an oversight board established by Congress who serves in Puerto Rico's House of Representatives with the party that supports the current commonwealth status but worries statehood would force Puerto Ricans to give up things they've long treasured "We can give plenty of examples of things that are important to the people of Puerto Rico on day-to-day and we are not sure how we would come about if statehood was a reality." Natal supports a political status called free association That would enable Puerto Rico to maintain its close relationship with the U.S while allowing the island autonomy to make its own trade deals Congress might find free association more acceptable than statehood in part because statehood would grant Puerto Rico more power in Washington — two U.S senators and as many as five House members numbers that could affect Republican control in Congress with President Trump's pledge to build a wall on the U.S Washington is unlikely to welcome a state where Spanish is the first language "I understand what's going on there and I know that statehood is not a possibility." Puerto Ricans will go to the polls to choose between two options: statehood or independence/free association in part because of the town's historical connection to the U.S but that's not the fault of the U.S.," he says members of the island's independence movement come to Guanica to protest It's a place that's both a source of pride a symbol of colonialism and a century-long dysfunctional relationship with the U.S Become an NPR sponsor SearchMan held after woman’s body is found in suitcaseThe San Juan Daily StarNov 11 A 25-year-old man was placed under arrest after the discovery of a woman’s body in a container resembling a suitcase at around 1:20 p.m several people arrived at the police station to report the discovery of a black suitcase-type object a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Gaya Concepción The case was to be consulted with the on-duty prosecutor for the possible filing of criminal charges Personnel assigned to the Homicide Division of the Ponce Criminal Investigation Corps and prosecutor Patricia Lugo Rodríguez were investigating Residents of the Esperanza neighborhood in Guánica have been waiting for nine months for emergency decontamination coordinated by the EPA to kick off and for the broadening of an investigation to identify the extent of the contamination More than a year after having included defunct company Ochoa Fertilizer in the National Priorities List of its Superfund program cleanup of the contaminated land in the Esperanza neighborhood in Guánica Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to get off the ground The federal agency had estimated that emergency cleanup work would begin last  July and has continued to push back the start date an investigation by the Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI The most recent date the agency released is January 2024 to decontaminate the backyards of 19 properties in the neighborhood 44% of the residences in the neighborhood were vacant or underutilized The houses that collapsed four years ago are still there there’s rubble on which a layer of vegetation grows and a deafening silence prevails much of the time Guánica is the town with one of the highest poverty levels in Puerto Rico and the one with the highest population drain in the past 10 years Photo by Gabriela Carrasquillo Piñeiro | Centro de Periodismo Investigativo Images of abandoned and collapsed homes after the 2020 earthquakes permalink permalink permalink the EPA reached an agreement with multinational W.R the current owner of the land from which PCBs and other pollutants drifted through stormwater the company will contribute $10 million to remove the contaminated land and investigate what other areas were affected it will also take runoff control measures within one year When asked why the approval of the work plan which they estimated would begin during the summer Grace said the process to begin the removal of contaminated land must follow several steps and that although they started in March they were unable to complete them in the estimated time “This includes talking to each property owner to get their consent to work on their property getting the necessary permits from the government of Puerto Rico and federal agencies and completing the SOP [Site Operation Plan] to get EPA approval,” it stated in writing to the CPI Grace on the reasons for the delay and added that the efforts they had to make to “find the appropriate contractors and PCB waste disposal facilities in both Puerto Rico and the United States” also played a role PCBs are synthetic chemical compounds whose use has been prohibited in the United States since 1979 and which were used as lubricants in electrical transformers Its health impact includes conditions such as skin and liver cancer and impact on children’s cognitive development during pregnancy it operates through a company called Guánica-Caribe Land Development Corporation incorporated in the 1990s after dismantling the facilities in the contaminated area Grace bought the operation responsible for the contamination in 1959 Before it was known as Gonzalez Chemical – and later as the Caribe Nitrogen Corporation – and was a failed project of the government of Puerto Rico to boost the municipality’s economy The inadequate management of chemical products affected the community since it opened its doors in 1957 Grace also bought Ochoa Fertilizer and consolidated them The Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (EQB) has gathered the information since the 90s the CPI found a discrepancy regarding the priority status assigned to the Ochoa Fertilizer case In the version of the document included in the federal agency’s digital file the site appears with a  high “priority” recommendation In a different copy the EPA itself sent to this media outlet last June the word “high” appears crossed out and replaced by “low.” The EPA told CPI that in that 1994 report, according to its records, the local agency recommended it as low, and that after completing its investigations, the federal agency also classified it as “low priority” according to a 2001 report This happened despite evidence pointing to high levels of heavy metals and other contaminants inside and outside Ochoa Fertilizer At that time the case was put on a waiting list The CPI questioned whether this decision contributed to the fact that area communities have been exposed to those contaminants for decades who at the time of this interview was the deputy director of the EPA’s Caribbean division Font resigned from his position in December of this year Since 1984 he has held multiple positions at the agency and is well versed in the Superfund process Regarding how the determination of “low” or “high” priority affects the agency’s investigation of the site to be included in the priority list “It’s expected that an area [Superfund] with a decision of high-priority assessment be investigated more thoroughly sooner than a low-priority one.” several scientific teams found high levels of the contaminant in Guánica Bay between 2007 and 2014 in fish and even in blood samples from Guánica residents and after seven months during which the federal agency did not recognize the fishing and consumption of shellfish caught in the area as an existing problem the agency accepted that it erred in assuming that fish from the bay were not being consumed the average time from when the investigation on a site starts to consider its inclusion in the National Priority List until it is included is five years The case that has taken the longest took 17 years It took the EPA 27 years to take on the Guánica case but the important thing is that you know that it’s now on the [National Priority] List and we’re now doing the work we need to do to remove the PCBs and protect the community,” EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa García said on the unusual delay She said since the site was labeled as one of national priority it has been addressed with a celerity that is uncommon in this type of emergency response Her work team also argued that the 2017 hurricanes “How long have they been saying they’re going to clean up I was in the hospital [in July] because I had an asthma episode that almost killed me In December 2022, Palau received a letter from the EPA stating that her yard was contaminated with thallium, a metal that can be harmful to health and impact the nervous system She has received mixed messages about what will happen on her property Grace subsidiary assured her that they would decontaminate her land but then they said no because as it was not polluted with PCBs she got another letter announcing the start of decontamination in the area but with the warning that getting the notification did not mean that her property would be cleaned up Palau lives in one of the 44 homes that the EPA investigated She is a cancer survivor and has suffered from chronic asthma since she moved to the property with her parents in the 1990s She now lives with the worry of knowing that she has several contaminants in her yard and that probably no one will do anything to remove them She resorted to legal advice but given the high costs and not knowing which other residents were in her same situation “My dad died because of his lung condition who can say that one thing doesn’t have to do with the other he didn’t have COPD [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease] and shortly thereafter she developed colon cancer a condition that she says no one in her family suffers from Her residence is in the EPA investigation area who grew up in the neighborhood and is a skin cancer survivor they told him that in mid-August they would go to sample the property that he inherited that is in the EPA’s research area Several neighbors interviewed by the CPI agreed in pointing out the high incidence of cancer in the area A situation they say the government does not address The CPI requested information from the Health Department (DS) about its participation None of the hundreds of documents the CPI reviewed mention that this agency has conducted any type of intervention The residents also do not remember any contact from the DS with them These testimonies are from some of the residents that the CPI interviewed separately and who received visits from a representative of the company responsible for getting permission to access their residences to investigate the presence of PCBs The company told CPI in writing that it has already contacted all the affected residents and has gotten 90% of the permits they need to expand their investigation in the study area they said  in writing that since the property was designated as Superfund they have worked collaboratively with the EPA and the city to “rebuild a vibrant community.” However the CPI found in the EPA’s case file that the company tried to discredit the investigation from the start and even disagreed with the area being included in the Superfund program Although Guánica residents look forward to a rigorous response from the EPA several sectors of the community see it as late and insufficient because many have not received detailed information about the status of the cleanup “I looked for information about what PCB is I’m super nervous here as a Guánica resident We don’t know,” Lourdes Feliciano told the CPI The woman lives around  the town center but she frequently visits the boardwalk area And all those things create a lot of uncertainty for me,” a resident told the CPI anonymously Her property is within the initial study area she said that since they first visited her between March and April “I even spoke with my lawyer about this because I plan to eventually sell to go to the United States and he already told me that if it’s contaminated so I don’t know what else to do and what decisions to make — to wait Families in and outside the EPA’s initial investigation area are not treated the same during the process: those living outside this area are unaware of the progress of the federal agency and W.R while many neighbors within the area in Barriada Esperanza have received multiple visits from representatives of the company that finances the process the EPA’s Caribbean division recommended residents avoid direct exposure to soil clean their animals’ feet and paws before entering the home and clean their property regularly using “wet cleaning techniques to avoid dispersing dust,” among other indications This information was disclosed during the first community meeting that the agency coordinated in March and which was attended by no more than 20 residents from different neighborhoods of Guánica “There were some people there who got a letter a neighbor whose home is located right in front of the Guánica boardwalk She told CPI that she found out about the meeting the same day but we do because these are still our homes Just because they say this is contaminated you’re going to leave you’re going to keep touching the earth,”  Palau expressed with extreme concern about what she believes are unrealistic measures to protect the neighbors’ health while they wait The scant communication with the community about the progress of the work also makes it difficult for the residents — who are still suffering the consequences of the impact of the earthquakes and the pandemic — to support each other It also hampers their ability to scrutinize this process which they also believe to be inaccessible due to its technical complexity “People don’t understand what a Superfund is,” said Feliciano who believes that the ways the agency used to inform the population don’t respond to their needs At least five residents consulted by the CPI agreed on this point especially due to the limited access to technology and mobility of elderly residents in the area The EQB’s Superfund division initiated the investigation of Ochoa Fertilizer after being warned about the presence of 55-gallon containers abandoned on the company’s land During their first visit to the site in 1991 they reportedly found a stash of 40 broken and highly corroded containers with unknown material deposited directly into the ground factory administrators alleged that it was a warehouse for 20 containers which scientists recommended not removing until they concluded their environmental studies scientists found that the deposit had been removed Ochoa Fertilizer conducted two environmental studies that showed that the unknown content was not dangerous the EPA found the highest level of PCBs in a sample taken in the nearby area where the deposit they classified as illegal was located They still don’t know the source of the contamination “The area’s remedial investigation and feasibility study will determine the nature and extent of the contamination,” the EPA said without specifying when this is expected to occur Si tiene una solicitud de investigación, queja, aclaración, 'orejita', prueba, inquietud, u observación sobre alguna información publicada por el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, escriba al correo electrónico [email protected] have long known about the troubled past of pollution that has plagued the waters of the small inlet situated off their town’s southern coast Air Force lieutenant colonel who grew up in this town of more than 16,000 can recall vividly the story his father told him about the tanker that spilled thousands of gallons of oil into the bay nearly 60 years ago “He was a fisherman and had to go miles and miles offshore just to make his living,” Cruz recalled “The waters were too polluted.” remember how the town’s fertilizer plant used to produce ammonium sulfate and sulfuric acid in the 1950s and 1960s dumping its untreated waste into the inlet.  Guánica Bay is once again at the center of a contamination crisis and a University of Miami scientist is helping to bolster efforts aimed at abating the problem.  “Raising awareness is just part of the solution,” said Naresh Kumar a professor of environmental health in the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences has been tracking and documenting elevated levels of a group of harmful chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls “Scientific research and following the science is the key,” he said we cannot even begin to create educational awareness It’s about aiding community members who could be at risk informing them what kinds of actions they can take to reduce their exposure.”  Kumar and his team tested sediment samples from three locations in Guánica Bay discovering that they contained the second-highest levels of PCBs ever recorded anywhere in the world “Second only to those found in Canada’s St Lawrence River in 1995,” Kumar said.  Their testing revealed PCB levels higher than those detected by scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) who analyzed sediment from the bay shortly before Kumar’s team.  who spent about a week in Guánica conducting research and public hearings on the contamination also found high levels of PCBs in two species of fish—mutton snapper and common mojarra—that inhabit the bay.  Once valued for their stability and used as insulating fluids and coolants in electrical equipment such as transformers But they can still be found in the environment because of their resistance to natural degradation and their bioaccumulation in the food chain.  In underserved municipalities like Guánica that lack both extensive resources to test for dangerous chemicals and the effective measures to clean them up “PCBs can pose a serious public health threat,” Kumar said “They can damage the immune and reproductive systems and the nervous system And exposure to them has been documented to cause cardio and cerebrovascular disorders.”  Since his team’s initial testing of sediment from the bay Two years after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017 Kumar and his team returned to Guánica to conduct follow-up analyses of the sediment finding that PCB levels had increased threefold His hypothesis is that the storm’s powerful winds dredged the bottom of the bay bringing up more PCB-contaminated sediment But it was what they found during a different kind of sampling that raised more serious concerns: elevated levels of the chemical in blood samples taken from 150 Guánica residents which suggests some of the townspeople consumed fish from the bay.  If any location qualifies to be a Superfund site by the U.S it is the area surrounding Guánica Bay The Superfund program centers on cleaning up contaminated areas And such a designation would force parties responsible for the contamination to either clean up the site or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work.  following the completion of the NOAA study ruled that the site didn’t qualify as such saying that no exposure pathways for humans were present the EPA proposed to add the Ochoa Fertilizer Co in Guánica to its National Priorities List starting a “comment period” that will run through Nov 8 and during which Guánica’s residents can voice their concerns “The EPA will not make a final decision on the site until it has reviewed comments received from interested stakeholders,” said EPA spokesperson Stephen McBay who added that the agency’s next update on the Ochoa site is expected in March 2022.  consists of two parcels: a 13-acre western lot along Guánica Bay and a 112-acre eastern lot within 500 feet of the inlet The facility’s former operators manufactured ammonia and sulfuric acid at the site beginning in the 1950s fertilizer is produced on the 13-acre lot.  But it is not the fertilizer or the chemicals that were manufactured there in the past that are to blame for elevated PCB levels in the bay but rather generators that once produced electricity for the plant’s operations a professor of environmental engineering at the University of Miami’s College of Engineering she traveled to Guánica on two occasions to collect and test sediment from the bay “The energy needs of such a plant are substantial because nitrogen from the air has to be combined with hydrogen gas to produce the fertilizer,” Solo-Gabriele explained “It’s a very energy-intensive process it is possible that there were once old PCB-insulated capacitors onsite that caused the contamination.”  has no evidence so far to back up that scenario He pointed out that his team also detected other chemicals in Guánica Bay’s sediment including arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons a class of chemicals that occur naturally in coal Kumar and his team are determined to keep Guánica Bay’s PCB contamination issue at the forefront.  Not long after their initial testing of bay sediment the team collaborated with Guánica’s Aurea E Quiles Claudio High School to launch a public awareness campaign about the contamination in the bay Students created posters listing PCB contamination rates and the potential impacts the chemicals could have on human health and the environment and they went out into the community to distribute the information.  Some of those students later attended a summer training program at the University learning about environmental issues and using portable biosensors designed by researchers in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to test water samples for the presence of PCBs—knowledge they would later take back to their communities in Guánica working on this project was like giving them a security blanket,” said Gambale who is now a senior at the University of Central Florida and plans to return to Puerto Rico after he graduates.  “I could see the passion for the project in Dr Kumar’s eyes when he was in Guánica and that sort of rubbed off on all of us,” Gambale said.  the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, would like to see Guánica Bay restored to its former luster He is the founder and owner of Guánica’s community library and helped organize some of the community events that doled out information to  residents about the bay’s contamination could help transform his hometown into a major tourist hub attracting more visitors and boosting an economy that has sometimes suffered.  He and other community partners recently participated in a teleconference call with Kumar to explore future outreach efforts now that the EPA is considering adding the Ochoa site to its National Priorities List.  “This endeavor is vitally important to us,” said one of those partners executive director of Protectores de Cuencas a Puerto Rico-based NGO (non-government organization) that focuses on ecological rehabilitation “Guánica Bay is a priority conservation area for the U.S and we plan to continue our collaboration with Naresh on outreach and education efforts.”  Kumar remains optimistic that the EPA will designate Guánica site as a Superfund location “We’ve clearly shown that some children from the community swim in the bay and that some people are catching and eating fish from it,” he said there’s an obvious link to human exposure.” The docks have no land access other than through the properties of the Governor's son To transfer to a private or government entity “the long-term use of maritime-terrestrial public domain assets that entails the installation or use of permanent constructions,” the DRNA must issue a concession The docks on Pierluisi Rojo’s property are not among the projects that have DRNA concessions according to the data the agency sent to the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (CPI) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), through its spokesperson, Luis Deyá, also confirmed to the CPI that “the USACE has not been able to locate an application or permit” for any of the docks in question. Construction on submerged land needs to comply, for example, with the federal Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 which prohibits the unauthorized obstruction or alteration of any navigable waters of the United States and its territories the lawyer identified the docks as a “public structure” and that “they don’t belong to or are managed by Silver Beach LLC,” a company registered with the State Department under Pierluisi Rojo’s name the docks have no land access other than through the governor’s son’s properties the rental offers for this complex posted on the web do include them as part of the experience that is rented at a base cost of almost $700 per night which are promoted as Tu casa at Mary Lee’s by The Sea and Villa Pacifica at Mary Lee’s by The Sea and was purchased in November 2021 at a total cost of $1.8 million The cement sidewalks in the backyard of the two buildings interconnect with the two docks and part of these structures also exceed the limits of public domain assets as can be seen in the satellite images of the complex included in the property registry The same happens with a wooden deck located on rocks at the edge of the sea Both the sidewalk and the deck existed before 2021 when comparing images of the complex for 2017 and 2018 they show that someone restored the area after the 2020 earthquakes although public records do not show any permit for that work or that the previous nor the current owners have a current concession from the DRNA for the private enjoyment of that area In his reaction to a complaint filed by Carlos Díaz Sánchez — who is running for a Senate seat for the Popular Democratic Party (PPD in Spanish) — for possible legal and regulatory violations in this complex Pierluisi Rojo publicly denied that the docks were part of his property This statement is different from the permit request made by Pierluisi Rojo’s short-term rental company on August 24 which sought to obtain an environmental recommendation the docks are recognized as part of the property’s permit “The facility has two existing docks, which will remain unchanged. The main proposed format is to keep a multi-unit design with shared areas between units,” according to the first phase of the proposed remodeling project the use of the docks is essential for the type of business that Pierluisi Rojo promotes as  proposed to the OGPe when it says that “the property has recently been acquired by West Indies Vacation Rentals (another Pierluisi Rojo-owned company) with the vision of remodeling it into an eco-conscious themed water sports destination with a pool or pools overlooking the Caribbean Sea and a full inventory of water sports equipment to enjoy its surroundings.” former owner Susan Lee Álvarez Grossman received an environmental compliance determination from the OGPe through a categorical exclusion for one of the complex’s units she proposed submitting to the DRNA a certification of demarcation and endorsement for the concession of an “existing dock for embarkation and disembarkation of people in Aurora Cay Guilligan Island.” The request was granted for one year and expired in 2016 There is no renewal in the OGPe digital files Álvarez Grossman requested a consultation from the OGPe for certification of demarcation and dock concession on July 31 Álvarez Grossman  again submitted a demarcation and concession request to OGPe to legalize the dock structure that connects with this property The only approved permit was requested on May 9 to increase the electrical load “of existing facilities to be remodeled” at Mary Lee’s by The Sea It was filed because the applicants did not submit the documentation the OGPe required The proponent told the OGPe that the construction project proposed would not have “a significant environmental impact.” The proposed work was: “improvements to an existing facility including the construction of new amenities The August 2022 permit application indicates that to minimize any impact to water bodies in the area “effective erosion control and sedimentation prevention measures as well as to control fugitive dust emissions These measures will include but are not limited to installing synthetic mesh (silt fence) and hay bales and/or any other control measure deemed necessary to protect the stormwater systems.” The document adds that “after Hurricane María the [previous] owner partially opened the hotel until the earthquake happened on January 7 when due to the damage suffered it was permanently closed.” The permit requested by Silver Beach included structural and aesthetic improvements to the hotel located in the Punta Jacinto sector in Guánica The document acknowledges that damage to the property led to its closure and the need for structural improvements The property is offered as a luxury short-term rental without it being clear how the repairs were made that allow its commercial use if there is no construction permit granted for either of the two properties that comprise the complex who was previously a senator for the New Progressive Party (PNP said after the complaint was filed on April 16 When comparing the images published between 2010 and 2018 it is notable that multiple changes have been made to the infrastructure including some of those that were in the permit application that OGPe denied for which there was no permit to rebuild or improve there are contrasts between the previous and current state of the oceanfront wooden deck that serves as a sort of terrace If a completely new one was not built — which is what it seems — at least it is evident that a new staircase was put in place and that the railings were changed The wood of the terrace and its symmetry with the general design of both rental units and with the deck of the dock show that construction was done there as its owners admit in the documents submitted to the OGPe “the facility has two existing docks” and neither of them has a concession from the DRNA as confirmed by the data provided by the agency the managers of Tu casa at Mary Lee’s by The Sea and Villa Pacifica at Mary Lee’s by The Sea are taking advantage of public domain assets without authorization the property was forced to close in 2020 due to damage to the structure caused by the earthquakes in the area the construction works that facilitated its opening and rental were done without the OGPe’s permission according to the agency’s file of the remodeling request presented in 2022 when Pierluisi Rojo’s corporation already owned the properties Neither the DRNA nor the United States Army Corps of Engineers have documentation that authorizes the use of docks or remodeling in the area the Governor’s statement that in this case “everything’s legal” is false Si tiene una solicitud de investigación, queja, aclaración, 'orejita', prueba, inquietud, u observación sobre alguna información publicada por el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, escriba al correo electrónico [email protected] Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck near the south coast of Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning which was felt across the island, caused some cracks but no reported injuries in a region that has been shaken by continuing quakes for over a month Officials in the southwest coastal town of Guayanilla reported a cracked wall and arch near a municipal pool that had already been closed to the public EST and was centered 13.6 miles south-southeast of Guanica The quake's depth was relatively shallow at about 4.3 miles beneath the surface The USGS initially estimated the quake's magnitude at 5.3 before downgrading it to 5.0 Puerto Rico has been recovering from a 6.4 magnitude quake in January that killed one person left much of the island without power and damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and schools.  About 4,000 people remain in shelters in Puerto Rico’s southern region and officials expected that number to rise with the latest quake.  Even though the EPA recognized the risk posed by the consumption of fish from the bay after a  Center for Investigative Journalism’s investigation neither the municipality nor federal or local agencies have taken measures to prevent recreational fishing and warn  the public about the risks of consuming species from this body of water whose body and face are wrapped in t-shirts to protect himself from the sun ends his fishing day that began at 6:00 a.m The stench emanating from the bay is unbearable on this side of the coast and although there are several factors that have contributed to its pollution Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been investigating since 2018 the presence of a chemical that has been identified in these waters at levels that represent a health risk to the community and the environment a substance that is commonly used as a lubricant in electrical transformers and that the EPA banned in 1979 Although the EPA knew since 2020 that the contaminated area of the bay was used by residents for shellfish consumption denied to the Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI in Spanish) for   seven months that this activity was actually taking place But in statements days before the publication of this investigation the EPA accepted that it erred in assuming that fish from the bay were not being consumed “We recognize the confusion about the consumption of fish from Guánica Bay by recreational fishermen which suggest that the community did not consume fish from the bay may have originated from anecdotes offered by local sources,” the agency said in response to questions from CPI “EPA advises the public to use caution when considering consumption of fish and crabs from Guánica Bay We’re actively working to address these concerns and ensure the safety and well-being of local communities,” they added in writing without detailing what specific measures they are taking The local and federal governments have not yet alerted the public or prohibited fishing in the area that is visited by fishermen and visitors from different parts of the archipelago The EPA says that the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA in Spanish) and the Department of Health are the agencies that could intervene preventively while the DRNA says it has not acted because the EPA is the one that has control of the entire process According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the EPA itself it has been established that prolonged exposure to high concentrations of PCBs could cause some conditions — including cancer — of the skin and liver affect cognitive development in children and during pregnancy They state that more studies are still needed on the effects of PCBs on human health The Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board reported the chemical with carcinogenic potential in Guánica in 1998, on the land where one of the Ochoa Fertilizer factories operated. It took the local and federal governments 20 years to investigate the case and alert the communities the EPA confirmed the presence of the chemical substance in 43% of the backyards of homes and businesses included in its sample in the Esperanza neighborhood and in 2022 the area was included in the list of national priorities of its  land cleanup program known as the Superfund reached an agreement to pay $10 million for the cleanup the agency confirmed it would begin in early January the investigation that would extend to the bay is on pause although the findings of other scientific investigations about the contaminant in this body of water were the reasons for going into the area to investigate they cannot take any preventive action until their own investigation is completed Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Department of Health does have an ongoing investigation into existing public health risks that includes the water in the area but does not have an estimated completion date The director of the EPA’s Caribbean division said her agency cannot take preventive measures in the bay unless ATSDR recommends it “If we knew that there was any imminent risk or danger to the community those preventative measures would be taking place.  It’s not necessary for them to be included in a document for me to say: ‘EPA you have to stop this and avoid this exposure,’” said the toxicologist who leads the federal Health investigation life goes on there for those who live off what they catch Manuel has been supporting his family with fishing for 25 years: grouper who has not been able to go back to the sea since he started chemotherapy for liver cancer a disease also suffered by three of Manuel’s uncles who died last year “We have always said: ‘It’s this rottenness [that] has killed us little by little.’ […] You become afraid of this here forget about it,’” he says while smiling resignedly The stories of sick people are repeated in the communities that border Guánica Bay: liver diseases but given that the government of Puerto Rico has never investigated the impact of the contamination of this area which has been one of high industrial activity for decades the number of people who may have died from this cause is unknown Four experts in public health and environmental sciences that the CPI consulted noted the cumulative characteristic of the chemical in the body particularly in cases in which people have been exposed for a long time which means that they adhere to the fat in your body and continue to bioaccumulate,” said scientist Naresh Kumar from the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami “They start at the low end of the food chain and it bioaccumulates until it reaches a point where if it gets into your body there’s no way to get it out professor at the Mayagüez Campus of the University of Puerto Rico specialist in contamination of water resources while the EPA concludes its investigations the municipality and local agencies could take coordinated measures with the federal agency to alert the population and minimize the risk exposure of the communities in the area warnings in the affected area and educational efforts that make information accessible to the community and visiting public “This cannot be a secret […] If the local government already knows what’s happening in that bay it’s also appropriate to have risk communication and education plans so that there’s a reduction in exposure minimizing exposure to these contaminants while [the EPA] is doing the cleanup,” said Pablo Méndez professor of Public Health at the University of Puerto Rico’s Medical Sciences Campus (RCM The multiple sources of pollution to which the communities in Guánica have been exposed and that have contributed to the current state of deterioration result from the negligent industrial activities in the area such as the inadequate management of contaminants that ended up in soils and bodies of water “It shows an industrial management practice that wasn’t the most appropriate and most of the environmental regulations that we currently have in force did not exist,” said Luis Bonilla professor of Public Health at the University of Puerto Rico’s Medical Sciences Campus Méndez said “the buildup of bad practices that the private sector has had in the region and the little information that the community has also had about the risks to which it may have been exposed shows there may be greater type of exposure to these contaminants.” Although local authorities have known about the potential exposure to the contaminant for almost three decades the CPI found that only one effort has been made to inform the community on how to avoid exposure to PCBs in the area The initiative was a collaboration between scientist Kumar’s team and the Áurea E Quiles Claudio High School to educate the community about the contaminant its presence in the bay and safe ways to consume fish if necessary more than 300 Guánica residents were interviewed between 2014 and 2018 They found that consumption of seafood caught directly from the bay decreased from 57% to 41% “We were quite serious about telling people to try to eat as little fish as possible from the bay do it safely: just eat the filet without much of the fat who participated in the campaign as a high school student pro-independence Senator María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón presented a resolution that orders the School of Public Health of the UPR Medical Sciences Campus and the Department of Health to conduct an epidemiological study to investigate whether there is a causal relationship between exposure to high levels of PCBs and other contaminants identified in the area It also orders an investigation into “the health conditions suffered by the residents of Guánica with emphasis on the communities surrounding route PR-333 the mid- and long-term effects and the impact of such exposure on the community’s health.” The measure was presented and referred to the Senate Health Commission in June of this year the senator’s environmental advisor confirmed The action responded to a request from Guánica residents following the EPA’s intervention in 2018 and the little information they have received about the extent of the contamination and the possible risks they face Scientifically relating exposure to a contaminant to the development of certain health conditions in a community is very challenging Senior scientist and principal investigator at Northeastern University in Boston said contrary to the control that can be had in clinical trials in the field of environmental health it is often difficult to estimate the effects caused by a pollutant and differentiate them from the chance of developing a condition since there are many toxins and contaminants to which a population can be exposed throughout its life it becomes even harder,” she warned about the complex pollution panorama like the one that exists in the bay Although the EPA and the Municipality of Guánica claim that those who practice recreational fishing in the bay do not consume what they catch 114 people who practiced recreational fishing in Guánica Bay were interviewed The data was provided by DRNA biologists who work for the nearby Guánica Dry Forest and analyzed by the CPI and it appears that 56% of the people who were successful in their fishing took the fish home 75% are from Guánica and neighboring Yauco The data shared with the CPI on shore fishing is collected as part of a Guánica Dry Forest project Although the EPA has not yet investigated the bay several entities and researchers have done so since the 1990s the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Miami in 2014 Guánica Bay was discovered to have the second highest concentration of PCBs in the world contaminated fish and eventually high levels of the compound were confirmed in the bodies of Guánica residents it was also found that the environmental concentration of the pollutant had increased fourfold in the bay The Municipality of Guánica’s Administrator said the only measure taken in the bay by the DRNA to protect people’s health was the cancellation of the Guánica Bay crossing swim event in the eighties after declaring the waters not suitable for bathers He said that at that time signs were installed warning about the contamination of the water the CPI was able to confirm that there is nothing that warns about the health risk of consuming what is caught or swimming there Area residents have not seen warning signs in recent years and which states in general terms and fine print that fishing and swimming in the area are prohibited,but no reason for such warning is given The sign is illegible because it is hidden behind another sign and has extremely small lettering “[Shore fishing] stopped because of the same situation of the apparent contamination of the bay which we most likely know is contaminated,” said the municipal official adding that they are waiting on what course to follow based on what scientific investigations have found in the area In response to the findings on the activity and consumption of fish caught in the bay that the CPI showed him the Administrator said he will contact the DRNA to see how the Municipality can cooperate in providing guidance to fishermen and the public The agency in charge of identifying the responsible parties and ensuring that the cleanup of the contaminant in the bay and the affected lands in Guánica is done is the EPA — The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) guides the Superfund process and does not establish specific time frames for addressing a case Guerrero and project manager David Cuevas blame the bureaucracy and high volume of cases for the agency’s extreme delay in addressing the matter and taking the necessary corrective actions to deal with the contamination in Guánica Guerrero said in an interview with the CPI that while the EPA waits for US Department of Health recommendations the DRNA and the Puerto Rico Department of Health can take preventive measures to avoid fishing in the bay The CPI asked the local Department of Health for information on its participation The only DRNA division that claims to be aware of the situation is its Superfund Division because it has been contacted by the EPA as part of the program’s formal process the manager of the area to which this division belongs said that they are not responsible for measures that are needed in the bay to alert the public who participated in the original EQB investigation in the 1990s said he does not remember the details of the investigation in which he participated since it took the EPA 18 years to contact them again in addition to recommending several actions to the EPA took no further action on the 1998 findings because that federal agency is the one “in charge of everything.” regretted  that the EPA does not consider the experiences of the communities and her work team She acknowledged that the bureaucracy in the DRNA has hindered the process from its central offices but she said she was willing to contribute by installing notices to mitigate any risk to citizens The biologist told CPI that she learned the details of the cleanup process during a meeting between the local scientific community and the municipal government The remediation project manager of the EPA division in the Caribbean was invited there to provide details of his intervention at the site and receive comments “I was concerned and raised a flag because it doesn’t appear from the [EPA] presentation that they are considering that recreational fishing and consumption of these fish was a problem They thought that commercial fishermen were going out to sea but there’s a population of recreational fishermen who are visiting,” she told the CPI unlike recreational fishing that happens in reservoirs it’s more common on the coast for people to consume what they catch Guerrero told CPI that the EPA cannot rely on the work of other scientists to take preventive measures there’s no decision for a fishing warning Additional studies are required for that,” she said Given the concern about the University of Miami’s findings on contaminated fish the toxicologist who leads public health research in the area the findings of that study were not a problem because a too small sample was used This happened during the first community meeting last March The EPA Superfund National Priority List includes the sites most affected by pollutants hazardous to human health and the environment in the United States and territories served by EPA NOAA marine biologists in 2007 found PCBs in coral tissue and sediment along a nearly 14-mile coastline with the bay being where they found the significantly highest concentration This was the start of a pilot project that today is led by the Protectores de Cuencas organization and that took place without knowing about the EQB’s findings on Ochoa Fertilizer owner of the land that is part of the Superfund The University of Miami continued NOAA’s work to identify possible exposure through consumption of potentially contaminated fish. The work took more than 10 years. The EPA was not part of this entire effort, so the decision to address the Guánica case in 2018 came about after the scientific community rediscovered the high levels of PCBs in the environment in Guánica “It’s obvious that if PCBs are in the environment people will be affected,” Kumar said in an interview with the CPI “The concentration of PCBs in the population of the municipality of Guánica is more than 10 times the concentration found in the population of the United States,” warned Kumar who took 150 blood samples from Guánica residents and whose research is not yet available to the public Seeking that his work would lead to the EPA investigating the area and including it in its list of national Superfund priorities the scientist remembers sharing his work with the municipal government and believes there was political concern about the impact it would have on tourism and other sources of income in this town “They [EPA] were not very receptive to this idea” of the site being declared part of the Superfund Despite the importance of Kumar’s project to protect the Guánica population’s health the grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) that financed his project ended and the researcher has not been able to go back since 2020 who since 2014 has been investigating the impact of the contaminant on the community said that more work is needed to understand the impact that the contaminant has had on residents who already have high levels of PCBs in their system “Do they really have a high incidence of certain diseases those people who have high levels should be the target of intervention,” he concluded a very rare cancer and it took her kidneys; Uncle Atino melanoma [a skin cancer]; and then we have the liver we all have liver problems,” said Ada Vélez a neighbor whose home faces the Guánica boardwalk from kidney illness and cancer,” she added This is one of several testimonies that the CPI collected in the Pueblo and Ensenada neighborhoods about deaths and cases of different types of cancer According to data from the Department of Health that the CPI analyzed led the incidence of cancer mortality with an incidence of 75 deaths as the main cause compared to other neighborhoods — which did not exceed 44 deaths — in the period between 2015 and 2022 It is the second least populated neighborhood in Guánica the Superfund area under investigation by the EPA is on the opposite end of the bay After the consolidation of agencies in 2018 from its Environmental Emergencies Area and DRNA Superfund is still the one that collaborates with the EPA “We have no one to handle or pay attention to the condition of the island’s environmental quality the situation in Guánica dramatizes that inability that the State has been building to [assume] that basic responsibility that is fundamental for any government in any democratic society that ensures the health and well-being of citizens,” Planner Félix Aponte warned He also expressed reservations about ATSDR’s work particularly regarding the reliability of its previous public health investigations in other Superfund areas in Puerto Rico “We must be grateful that the EPA shed public light on this but I believe we must delve much deeper into the situation of the Guánica pollution problem because the most beautiful thing that Guánica has is the bay and we have a bay that can be open to so many activities and it can’t be because it’s contaminated and no one talks about how we’re going to decontaminate it,” said Vélez “Pushing off the future of a bay that is constantly polluted doesn’t make sense,” he said This investigation is the result of a grant awarded by the CPI Journalism Training Institute and was possible in part thanks to the support of Para La Naturaleza Si tiene una solicitud de investigación, queja, aclaración, 'orejita', prueba, inquietud, u observación sobre alguna información publicada por el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, escriba al correo electrónico [email protected] 10 Gift Ideas For Teacher Appreciation Week Air Purifiers: How To Clean Your Air (And Our Top Picks) Best Mother’s Day Flower Delivery Services We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom — Some tree species heal from the ravages of hurricane damage by growing replacement leaves optimized for greater efficiency, according to a Clemson University field study presented at the British Ecological Society’s annual conference optimized growth is an apparent attempt to fight back when hurricane winds rip away limbs and leaves When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico last year, ecologists at Clemson’s Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science in Georgetown took the opportunity to study how hurricanes affect tropical dry forests in the Caribbean The worst natural disaster on record to affect the U.S the hurricane stripped numerous trees bare of their leaves and disrupted their ability to absorb the light needed for growth and survival Clemson researchers sought to determine whether the trees were capable of compensating for the significant damage by increasing resource acquisition in newly produced leaves which brought together 1,200 ecologists from more than 40 countries to discuss the latest research doctoral student Tristan Allerton presented findings from the year-long field study “Our study took us to the Guánica State Forest in southwest Puerto Rico which comprises one of the best parcels of native dry forest in the Caribbean,” said Allerton with huge variability within and between years The forest also sits on limestone from an ancient coral reef meaning trees have little time to capture water as it travels through the underlying rock organisms are uniquely adapted to cope with unpredictable water availability.” The researchers examined the leaves of the 13 most dominant tree species one eight and 12 months after Hurricane Maria struck comparing them with leaves that were collected before the hurricane They analyzed whether the immediate changes observed in leaves were temporary or maintained over multiple seasons Trees rely on exchanging gas through their leaves simultaneously collecting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to convert into energy while trying to minimize water loss To capture maximum leaf-gas exchange rates by trees the team attached a sensor to new leaves in the forest at several points during the day They also looked at the newly produced leaves’ shapes and structures which play an important role in efficiently extracting gas from the atmosphere The preliminary findings suggest that 11 of 13 species studied were taking in carbon dioxide at much higher rates immediately following Hurricane Maria Many had also changed key characteristics of their leaves including increasing leaf area relative to leaf biomass investment trees were able to capture the same amount of light while spending less energy on leaf production “A key finding was that the leaves of some of the species contained less chlorophyll than prior to the hurricane,” said professor Skip Van Bloem director of the Baruch Institute and Allerton’s supervisor “Even though new leaves were better suited structurally to capture valuable resources lower leaf quality could reduce leaf lifespan and the trees’ ability to produce energy.” Caribbean tropical dry forests seem to be capable of tolerating major hurricanes though the ecologists stressed that there may be winners and losers in terms of how species respond Currently it is unclear whether dominant evergreen species can exploit post-hurricane conditions to the same extent as deciduous species “Many of our evergreens displayed little change in gas exchange rates and in general the relative decline in new leaf chlorophyll after Maria was much greater than for deciduous species,” he said evergreens renew their canopies over monthly and yearly timescales therefore it’s likely hurricane canopy damage is a more expensive process for these trees.” As climate change leads to expected increases in hurricane frequency and intensity the species composition of tropical dry forests in the Caribbean is likely to change One concern is whether endemic species will disappear over time “This would be a huge shame as Caribbean dry forests are known to have a higher proportion of endemic species than mainland dry forests,” Allerton said “Many trees found there are also incredibly ancient making these forests a living museum of biodiversity.” Or email us at news@clemson.edu Clemson News is the go-to source for stories and news about the innovations research and accomplishments of the Clemson Family power was knocked out and at least one person died after Tuesday’s 6.4-magnitude quake and powerful aftershocks Photograph: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images Puerto Rico (AP) — A 5.8-magnitude quake hit Puerto Rico before dawn Monday causing power outages and severely cracking some homes It was one of the strongest quakes yet to hit the U.S territory that has been shaking for the past week There were no immediate reports of casualties The quake was followed by a string of smaller temblors including another quake measured at magnitude 5 that struck later Monday shaking power lines and frightening residents of southern Puerto Rico who had been waiting outside their homes due to fears the buildings were damaged and unstable (1032 GMT) just south of the island at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) Mayor Santos Seda told the AP that five homes collapsed Helicopters buzzed overhead and terrified residents jumped up from their folding chairs every time the earth shook yelling at others to stay away from power lines Few people dared go back inside their homes His 80-year-old mother had heart problems and was lying in bed Dozens of people in a neighborhood called Hope in Guánica walked around with their phones and yelled out the magnitude of the latest earthquakes as they tried to calm children who were forced to open their presents on Three Kings Day "This is hell," said Alberto Rodríguez whose home collapsed on its side as the smell of gas filled the air Silvestre Alicea surveyed his home whose foundation collapsed on his bright blue 1977 Toyota Corolla He jumped from his balcony as the home collapsed Alicea had lived in New York for years until he retired to Guánica two years ago to live in the home he spent 15 years building people shared soda and snacks as they sought shelter from a harsh sun careful to stay away from homes whose columns and foundations were heavily cracked Many already had bags packed in their cars with a change of clothes didn't know where they would spend the night Government officials who inspected their home earlier in the morning said it was unsafe to live in and advised them to stay elsewhere Puerto Rico doesn't have a public earthquake warning system except for sirens that are supposed to ring in case of a tsunami Residents in this neighborhood criticized the government for what they believe is a lack of action who lives in the southern coastal town of Penuelas "My entire family woke up screaming," she said "I though the house was going to crack in half." The flurry of quakes in Puerto Rico's southern region began the night of Dec with quakes ranging in magnitude from 4.7 to 5.1 Previous quakes of lesser magnitudes in recent days have cracked homes and led to goods falling off supermarket shelves director of Puerto Rico's Seismic Network told the AP that shallow quakes were occurring along three faults in Puerto Rico's southwest region: Lajas Valley He said the quakes overall come as the North American plate and the Caribbean plate squeezes Puerto Rico and that it was unclear when they would stop or if bigger quakes would occur One of the largest and most damaging earthquakes to hit Puerto Rico occurred in October 1918 when a 7.3-magnitude quake struck near the island's northwest coast unleashing a tsunami and killing 116 people Puerto Rico’s El Yunque rain forest may be better known but this small island has incredible geographic and botanical diversity beyond that park’s boundaries Less visited by travelers than the rain forest is studded with cacti and other arid plants Travelers who enjoy hiking will have fun exploring the forest’s trails Just be sure to bring water as the heat and humidity can be punishing Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC Visitors hike at Guánica State Forest in Puerto Rico Credit: Ricardo Arduengo for The Washington Post The scenery starts to change when you leave the tall hotels and tapón (traffic jam) of San Juan behind and you will start seeing the lush green mountains of Cordillera Central the dense vegetation transforms into clusters of cactuses and shrubs painting an arid landscape against the distant view of the Caribbean Sea Ranging east to west from the town of Yabucoa to Cabo Rojo the southern coast of Puerto Rico is rich in culture locals say the spirit of hospitality makes the place unique who make people feel at home,” says Milexys Rosado Romero where neighbors traded mangoes for papayas My parents were always inviting people for coffee or my dad might arrive home with a bagful of fresh seafood he got from a friend he ran into at the beach no reliable public transport options exist so renting a car is the best bet to reach the smaller towns and unspoiled beaches From the East End and NYC day trips to weekend road trips and beyond By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy Many of the lodgings offered on the southern coast from the luxury Copamarina Beach Resort to the kid-friendly Combate Beach Resort have been owned by local families for generations small inns known as paradores and vacation rentals dominate the accommodations I recommend visiting from Wednesdays to Sundays for a livelier scene and more dining options; earlier in the week is perfect for having the beaches all to yourself People hang around a local beach bar/restaurant at sunset in the Boqueron village in Cabo Rojo Even the Caribbean Sea beaches on the southern coast of Puerto Rico are in chill mode more relaxed than their choppy Atlantic Ocean counterparts in the north Make it a daylong affair with a passion fruit mojito at Annie’s Place with picturesque sunset views hike the trails leading to El Faro de Cabo Rojo and Puente de Piedra for 360-degree views of a colorful mix of Caribbean blues sandy-colored rocky enclaves and green mangroves along the coast Walk a mile and a half north of Playa Sucia and you will encounter the Salinas de Cabo Rojo with colorful yellow-shouldered blackbirds flying over the pink salt flats A rat rod is seen parked in front of a beach bar in the Boqueron village in Cabo Rojo Boquerón is a neighborhood known for its stands of local fish You can also take a dip at its small sandy strip Piquillos stuffed with manchego cheese is one of the appetizers on the menu of Prime Market restaurant in Guayama it is known for having a charming plaza with homes and buildings dating from the 1800s One of these historical homes houses Gallo Pinto a restaurant by chef Ángel David Moreno Zayas that has become a destination with dishes like grilled oysters one must save room for ice cream at one of Guayama’s classic spots A scoop of salty-sweet corn ice cream with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon is perfect for a walk along the plaza a fishermen’s neighborhood beyond the city center go to El Arcoiris for one of my childhood favorites Apple Foster over crumbled cake with vanilla ice cream is one of the desserts on the menu of Prime Market restaurant in Guayama You can find one of the most impressive wine lists in the south at Prime Market where local couple Laury Cordero Sabater and Antonio Palau transformed an old home along Route 3 into an ample outdoor patio with a menu specializing in steaks People dance to live music at the public square in Ponce It’s hard to find Puerto Ricans prouder of their hometown than Ponceños “Start with a walking tour of the city center of Ponce to learn about the history of Ponce and gain an orientation of the city,” says Melina Aguilar Colón “One of the sights not to be missed is the Parque de Bombas de Ponce,” she said Initially built in 1882 for the Exhibition Trade Fair the Ponce firehouse is a symbol of the city; the distinct red-and-black-striped facade was an inspiration for the Ponce flag go for cocktails along Paseo de la Salsa Cheo Feliciano named after the pioneering salsa singer José Feliciano a big name in Puerto Rico’s cocktail community mixes drinks with tropical infusions like coconut water expect live music along the street where you can test your salsa skills Although the city has suffered structural damage during Hurricane Maria in 2017 Ponce has focused on reconstruction and updates to many of its cultural institutions Ponce is also considered the birthplace of plena music one of the traditional sounds of Puerto Rico plena tells the story of the Puerto Rican people from the early 1900s You can learn more about plena and other Puerto Rican music like bomba and danza at the Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña “everybody knows about El Yunque rainforest but nobody talks about El Bosque Seco de Guánica the dry forest on the island’s southwest coast.” One of the things that makes Puerto Rico unique is the contrast of ecosystems in a relatively small island you will notice the different varieties of cactuses Guayacán trees and mangroves as you get closer to the shoreline The dry forest is one of the island’s hottest places so ensure you bring plenty of water and sun protection A fisherman zips across Guanica Bay in Guanica La Parguera is home to one of the three bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico and you can also find kayak tours taking you deeper into the bay for better views the Parguera is known for its bustling scene on the weekends with plenty of bars The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months The town of Guánica in southern Puerto Rico is still reeling from a series of earthquakes that began in late December The largest — a devastating 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck around 4:24 a.m 7 — was followed by a 5.6-magnitude aftershock a few hours after The quake knocked out power across the island At least one person was killed and thousands slept outside their homes in Guánica and the surrounding municipalities on Puerto Rico’s southern coast the streets of the town remained nearly empty and damaged homes could be seen on almost every block “You can tell on the faces of the municipal employees [in Guánica] that they are not well,” said Helga Maldonado Although ESCAPE primarily focuses on domestic and child abuse issues Maldonado said that she and others stepped up to distribute aid after the Puerto Rican central government failed to adequately respond to the disaster Hundreds of smaller aftershocks and tremors continue to shake the region Puerto Rico National Guard members continued serving meals to 350 people at a formal tent city in Guánica informal setups of camping tents could be seen dotted across the municipality had been sleeping at the tent city for over a month and he visits his home daily to feed his pets “I tell them I’m okay just so they won’t worry about me,” he said Lassala waited to receive aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency After he receives the aid and gets his home straightened out he plans to move to the mainland United States following the path of many others who have left Guánica in the wake of the earthquakes MEDIA,INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS1845 Sheridan RoadEvanston Puerto Rico is facing the effects of devastating earthquakes A colourful and boisterous place in normal times Guánica today presents a ghostly and deserted air the sea breeze whistling through the ruins of the collapsed buildings that dot its streets The signs of life are a few: stray cats and dogs and a handful of families furtively piling their belongings into vehicles as they evacuate their homes Read more“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Edith Muñiz standing in front of a Presbyterian church where emergency supplies were being collected Across the street lay the ruins of a school whose three floors had pancaked flat on one another the students were still off on winter break.) “We’re living here without water and without light.” A public school in Guánica collapsed after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit just south of the island on 7 January Photograph: Eric Rojas/Getty ImagesAs after Maria the response of the US government has appeared unfocused and disconnected And – as after Maria – local officials have given varying and contradictory information about the island’s power grid at least 20% of the island’s customers were still without power After this latest tragedy, many in Puerto Rico wonder if the powers that lord over them – local or federal – have learned anything from recent history “The root of the problem remains unchanged,” saids Manuel Natal Albelo a representative in the commonwealth’s House of Representatives who will be running for mayor of the capital San Juan this fall under the banner of the Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana (MVC) an insurgent political party formed shortly before this past summer’s protests “It is the corruption of a two-party system that responds exclusively to benefit particular financial interest groups,” Natal continued “From the policies to the individuals in charge of their implementation the old political establishment still sacrifices the vast majority of our people to protect the privileges of a few.” Rosselló eventually resigned after a series of profane chats were leaked in which he and close advisers mocked ordinary Puerto Ricans lasted just five days before the island’s supreme court forced him out Pierluisi was succeeded by Wanda Vázquez She claimed no political aspirations herself announcing last month that she would run for a full term in office in the primaries of the ruling Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP) which favours Puerto Rico becoming a US state The PNP dominates the island’s bicameral legislature while the opposition Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) – which favours a continuation of commonwealth status – maintains a slim majority of the mayor’s office The parties have dominated Puerto Rico for decades Vázquez has enacted as series of populist measures, including streamlining the process for owning firearms (a questionable initiative in an island with a dire rate of gun crime and femicide) and signing a bill that affirmed the legality of cockfighting Despite Vázquez’s populist touch – she spent a recent night among quake-affected residents of the battered Guánica and the island’s national guard has established “tent cities” in five different towns – some now accuse her of continuing the same practices as her predecessor. A stream of aid from local non-governmental organizations and ordinary Puerto Ricans has flowed south since Tuesday’s initial tremor. as the ground beneath the Puerto Ricans feet still shuddered Donald Trump – who notoriously went golfing as Maria bore down on the island and then tossed paper towels at desperate islanders during a four-hour visit – has continued to withhold more than $18bn in federal funding earmarked by Congress This was in defiance of a congressionally mandated September deadline to account for at least $8m of it A controversial fiscal oversight board has controlled the island’s finances since 2016 as the bankrupt US commonwealth faces almost $18bn of general-obligation bonds and government-guaranteed debt But the machinations of any local and federal politicians are a distant drama for those dealing with this latest challenge As she and her family moved their belongings out of the Villa Del Caribe caserio (public housing project) in the southern city of Ponce where frightening cracks crept up the buildings’ facades Yetzabeth Vega López described the night the quake hit everyone ran because the buildings were moving so violently “We’re trying to find another place to live as this place is now not habitable we haven’t seen much help from the government A lot of people here are sleeping in their cars Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Darren Soto (D-9th District) invited Jessica Carillo to be his guest for the State of the Union address on Tuesday but she said the earthquakes left her home too dangerous and other structures collapsed around her.  “When you feel that sound and that shaking and that running all over your house ‘Esto no puede para?’ This can’t stop?'” she recalled.  She fled with only her and her mother's birth certificates and social security cards and less than a week's worth of clothes.  The Hispanic Federation reports there are more than 150 earthquake evacuees in Soto's district.  Soto said her story of survival and perserverance can help inspire his colleagues to help.  sacrifices and overcoming great odds," the Congressman said "Like in Orlando when we had Hurricane Irma or before than in 2004 when we had four hurricanes or like what we saw (after Hurricane) Katrina in Louisiana or like we saw in Hurricane Harvey in Houston these are Americans that need our help like we’ve done before.” House of Representatives will vote on a $4.67 billion relief package for Puerto Rico.  Soto also called for the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development and FEMA to work together to provide the earthquake evacuees in Florida with transitional or affordable housing.