The Senate Committee on Planning and Natural Resources on Thursday will scrutinize a permit application for an undersea fiberoptic cable on St. Croix.
The applicants are Global Crossing Inc. and Tyco Submarine Systems Ltd. The companies are seeking a major coastal zone permit to install eight submarine cables in Estate Northside, north of Frederiksted.
The site is also just north of Butler Bay, where AT&T installed similar cables in 1997. That project was mired in controversy, however, after the company's contractors illegally discharged tens of thousands of gallons of drilling mud into the water. The bentonite drilling mud, used as a lubricant, killed coral and scores of marine creatures, alleged the V.I. government.
The government then sued AT&T and after a protracted legal battle a settlement of several million dollars was reached.
As Global Crossing's project makes its way through the approval stage, Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg said he will review all the documents relating to the proposal.
"We are all too familiar with the AT&T mud spill at Butler Bay," Donastorg said. "And we must see that this new applicant does not make the same mistakes."
Donastorg said he wants to ensure that the company has contingency plans in place in case problems arise. He also said he will reexamine the fee schedule companies pay to use territorial waters when placing cables.
Global Crossing is already in the process of constructing its cable landing and switching building in Estate Northside.
"I think the public deserves to know who is coming into our backyard to do business," Donastorg said.
The committee will meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday on St. Thomas. For more information, call Donastorg's office at 693-3665.
