A virtual sigh of relief mighty enough to blow a barge across the harbor emanated from the island’s environmental community Thursday, following Gov. John deJongh Jr’s announcement that Lindbergh Bay would not be the site for the dumping of harbor dredging spoils.
The opponents of the project have been passionate, united, vocal, and ultimately, successful, in making their concerns heard. They have staged rallies, created the Save Lindbergh Bay Coalition and steadily kept after the government agencies, circulating scientific studies, keeping the community aware of their concerns.
Jason Budsan, V.I. Conservation Society president, and the acting president of the Environmental Association of St. Thomas St. John, still almost breathless in his joy at the decision, found time for a few words Thursday.
"I congratulate everyone who helped make this happen. Public pressure counts," he said. "The decision is significant because the Virgin Islands is looking at ways to solve problems, balancing the environment and the economy. However, we still believe that the Renaissance should and could be selected as an alternative for taking the spoils."
Earlier this year, Sen. Wayne James suggested St. Croix Renaissance Co. as an alternative site for the spoils. The company was receptive, James said, but to date the government agencies involved issued no comment.
Budsan said, "The clock is ticking. We are also looking at offshore dumping sites for the future maintenance of the harbor. In the long run, we have to have alternative sites for the spoils."
James said Thursday, "It’s a great triumph on our part. I was looking at the bay a couple days ago, and I wondered how anybody could compromise the beauty of this beach."
James voiced concern about the next steps.
"I heard a group will be put together to find a solution. It seems it will be a government- or quasi-government-run decision. If the spoils go on public property, the government could sell the material to contractors. That would be a good thing so long as it’s not hazardous. It should be a place where it can be salvaged economically. It has lots of commercial value."
He said he had no further information on the Renaissance bid.
Environmentalist Helen Gjessing., a firm opponent of the Lindbergh Bay project, said, "I’m really pleased that WICO and the Port Authority saw the writing on the wall, that this was really not a viable project. There’s no way it could restore the eco-system of Lindbergh Bay, (as proponents stated.) A lot of credit goes to the many people who kept plugging away. I really appreciate that."
Gjessing added, "I want to applaud the Army Corps of Engineers for the very careful analysis they have done of this project. It’s rather unusual for the Virgin Islands to get that much attention to projects going on here. It’s wonderful to hear this news. Iit takes a big load off my mind."
Speaking from a stateside vacation, Gjessing said, "Now I can enjoy the next 10 days. I can come back and land at the airport and look at that beautiful bay, and say, ‘Oh, we’re saved’."
Jeffrey Weiss, counsel for the Save Lindbergh Bay Coalition, said of the governor’s decision, "I’m still not used to it. I have to believe it’s real. I’m incredibly happy the governor finally did the right thing. What’s happened is great and we applaud him for that. I wonder, though, why the government doesn’t want to give this project to the Renaissance Company."
A very vocal member of the coalition, Jane Higgins weighed in, with mixed emotions. On the one hand, she said, "We’re proud of the governor. He came through for us. We are glad the bay is going to be saved."
On the other hand, she said, "Until we see the Army Corps of Engineers deny the permit to dump, we’re not completely convinced it’s over. We need the permit rescinded. As soon as we see the permit removed from the CZM application, we can celebrate."
Two appeals filed before the Board of Land Use Appeals Aug. 5 over the Coastal Zone Management permit will stand, say the appellants: The Coalition to Save Lindbergh Bay along with Emerald Beach Resort, the Carib Beach Resort, the Island Beachcomber Hotel and Walker’s by the Sea restaurant, and the other filed by the National Wildlife Federation, Inc., the Virgin Islands Conservation Society, Inc. and the Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John.
Representatives from each group, Higgins for the first and Budsan for the latter, say they will await the rescinding of the permit before taking any action. The board, required by law to hold a hearing within 60 days, has yet to take any action.
