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Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesV.I. TO LOSE MILLIONS IF FAA DEADLINE MISSED

V.I. TO LOSE MILLIONS IF FAA DEADLINE MISSED

The V.I. Port Authority is dangerously close to losing millions of dollars in federal funds because work on closing the Anguilla landfill on St. Croix, mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration, is months behind schedule.
"We are in big trouble," Port Authority Executive Director Gordon Finch warned members at a board meeting Wednesday. "The deadline will be missed because no progress has been made on a solid waste facility to handle the garbage. This was supposed to have been three months into construction by March 2001. It is scheduled to start in March 2002."
The FAA has the authority to decertify the runway and close the St. Croix airport if the deadline isn't met, Finch said.
Because of the threat that scavenging birds and frequent dump fires pose to aircraft using the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, the FAA has ordered the Anguilla landfill closed by December 2002. But in order to close the landfill, a new waste facility must be constructed to dispose of the approximately 150,000 tons of garbage produced each year in the territory.
"We will be told that the deadline is not going to slip," he said, "and, in fact, if we default on that commitment, all Department of Transportation funds, discretionary as well as entitlement, could well be taken from us. We may be required by the federal government to repay the amounts we have received."
Finch left the territory Wednesday afternoon to meet Thursday with Jack Reynolds, FAA administrator for airports, to ask for additional funding for the taxiway at St. Thomas's Cyril E. King Airport. "I have to explain what that will cost and why we need discretionary funds."
Attorney General Iver Stridiron, a board member, suggested telling Reynolds that the authority and the Public Works Department will meet with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull next Thursday after Finch's return to get a commitment for finishing the landfill work on time.
"The time for discussion is past," Finch said. "We have to act decisively." He said if the government fails to adhere to the schedule, the territory is in for "serious consequences." The authority will get a very short letter, Finch said, asking where we are and what's going on.
Wayne Callwood, board member and acting commissioner of Public Works, said there may be interim measures. "We are trying to implement something to avoid a major problem," he said. "We are trying to come up with creative ideas, such as using the landfill as a transfer station, though that wouldn't address the real objective." He said an immediate solution is needed, such as putting the garbage in trailers to put on barges to "take it to wherever you decide to take trash."
The federal government won't approve any site for burying garbage, Callwood said.
Stridiron reminded the board that the Port Authority itself had voted to put up barricades at the landfill if the work wasn't completed by December 2002.
In other action, the board approved funds for Carnival 2001, but not as the Carnival Committee requested. The committee had asked for $25,000 with a signed contract. Finch objected to "donating money" on a contract basis. He said he didn't want to donate any more money to "black holes" like the Sinbad music festival. "We had no clue where that money went," he said. "We need to control our funds."
On a motion by Stridiron, the board approved $30,000 for carnival festivities in 2001, with $10,000 each for St. Thomas', St. Croix's and St. John's celebrations, to be administered by VIPA.
Board chairwoman Pam Richards, acting Tourism commissioner, suggested constructing a booth at Cyril E. King Airport to welcome visitors to Carnival. Richards was enthusiastic about the work already accomplished by the Carnival Committee in lining up talent, and reminded the board that next year, 2002, is the 50th anniversary of carnival and had to be prepared for.
A hitch in a long-term operating agreement between the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, VIPA and the West Indian Co. Ltd. was discussed. The agreement calls for the FCCA to participate in marketing St. Croix. Members said the cruise ship companies don't normally market their destinations; that's up to the destinations.
Partnering with the FCCA to market St. Croix was brought up, but Richards said she wasn't going to spend her limited funds to market cruise lines. The agreement will be sent to the Cruise Ship Task Force for more study.
In other action, the board:
— Turned down a request by American Eagle for reduced airport charges on additional flights the airline wants to put on for Carnival.
— Approved six parking places exclusively for the Petite Pump Room in the Edward Wilmoth Blyden IV Marine Terminal parking lot, to be managed by the Petite Pump Room.
— Approved a $1 annual 20-year lease agreement for the American Legion Post #90 in Sub Base, and to give the legion a year to pay about $700 in back rent. The legion will make space available to other veterans' organizations;
— Approved work on the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport air traffic control tower.
Attending the meeting were board members Richards, Stridiron, Callwood, Robert O'Connor Jr., Sidney Lee, Leslie Milliner and Kent Bernier, along with Port Authority officers.

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