Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has given the green light for the Public Works Department, its commissioner and associated departments to buy whatever is needed to repair the territory's sewer system without going through the competitive bidding process.
A release from Government House said Turnbull had "declared a state of emergency" to enable Public Works to "obtain supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services necessary for the repair of the public sewer system in the open market, without advertising for public competitive bidding."
The governor said: "Our aging sewer system, which teeters on the brink of collapse and places all residents and our environment in jeopardy, must be addressed immediately."
Last week a broken sewage line in Frederiksted caused classes to be canceled at St. Patrick's School and left a stench in the air as an estimated 100,000 gallons of raw sewage a day was pumped into the sea.
As Public Works, the Planning and Natural Resources Department and a contractor worked Wednesday and Thursday to repair the break and eliminate the odor, two cruises ships called at the Frederiksted pier.
Federal officials have expressed concern for years about the territory's broken-down and poorly maintained sewage-treatment system, along with its landfills and other environmentally deficient facilities.
Turnbull said he had directed the commissioners of Public Works, Property and Procurement, Health, Finance and Justice, as well as the heads of other agencies, to cooperate in instituting the emergency procedures at Public Works.
The release did not make clear the scope of his "state of emergency" declaration at Public Works, including whether it encompasses areas other than the sewer system.
