DERP-FUDS Culebra Island Puerto Rico

May 2023

FACT SHEET

DERP-FUDS Culebra, Puerto Rico
Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP)
Congressional District: Puerto Rico

1. DESCRIPTION

Culebra is located about 17 miles east of the main island of Puerto Rico. The Culebra property, consisting of Culebra Island and surrounding cayos, was acquired via land transfers, purchases, donations, and leases, and was utilized as a coaling and communications station, for aerial bombing, maneuvers, naval gun, artillery firing, and amphibious training by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy during various periods between 1903 and 1975. All lands were transferred from Navy control prior to 1986 except for 68.83 acres near Flamenco Point.

Program and projects are appropriated under Defense Environmental Restoration Program – Formerly Used Defense Sites (DERP-FUDS). The Culebra property was approved for inclusion in the DERP by an Inventory Project Report (INPR) and Findings and Determination of Eligibility dated May 1991. In July 2005, the INPR was revised to clarify further the military’s use of Culebra. To facilitate the management of cleanup and decontamination activities, the Culebra property was initially delineated into fifteen (15) projects: an Installation Restoration Program (IRP) site, projects to address thirteen (13) Munitions Response Sites (MRS) under the Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP), and a Community Relations project.

Based on historical research and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Site Inspection (SI), the Culebra property has been prioritized for Remedial Investigation for munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) and munitions debris (MD), apart from the area on Culebra Island designated as the Northwest Peninsula (NWP). Per Public Law (PL) 93-166, the NWP cannot be remediated using federal funding; however, that was modified by Fiscal Year (FY) 15 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) language (PL 113-291). Section 317 of PL 113-291 states the Secretary of the Army may expend funds to decontaminate certain public use areas within the NWP of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The specific areas authorized within the NWP are portions of Carlos Rosario Beach, Flamenco Beach, Tamarindo Beach, the campground, and Carlos Rosario Trail. Upon authorization to expend funds to decontaminate the NWP, a MMRP project (MRS 16) was approved and added in June 2016 to include these areas. The intent was to ensure UXO are removed from these areas, thereby allowing their safe use for their current recreational purposes. This authorization does not specify cleanup of other environmental contaminants, including munitions constituents. The remaining acreage of that portion of the NWP controlled by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico remains the responsibility of the Commonwealth to restrict access and/or provide remediation.

2. FUNDING

3. STATUS

1. The SI was completed in 2007 on areas not within the NWP footprint. The SI recommended twelve of thirteen MRSs to proceed to the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) phase; 10 sites are on land with 8 having a water component, and 2 sites are totally within the water. Each underwater remedial investigation was conducted in three phases. The first phase consisted of an Environmental Baseline Survey to identify the bathymetric, plant (i.e., seagrass) and coral features of each area to be investigated. Emphasis was placed on identifying Endangered Species Act-listed species and their supporting habitats. The second phase was an electro-magnetic (geophysical) survey to identify possible munitions items or debris that might be present. The third phase was the intrusive investigation of items identified during the second phase and it consisted of excavating and/or disposing of any munitions, subject to listed species considerations.
2.  During the SI, USACE determined that there was no evidence of either the presence of munitions or environmental contamination from the military’s use within MRS 14. This area achieved Response Complete (RC) in 2009.
3.  All RI fieldwork (land and water) for all authorized MRSs as well as for the IRP site has been completed.
4. There are currently two completed MRSs (No Action; MRSs 14 and 17) while the remaining eleven MRSs are scheduled to have Decision Documents (DD) signed between FY23-FY25 with RC scheduled for FY24-FY34 (assumes no constraints on funding). The IRP site is scheduled for completion in FY24 at conclusion of the RI/FS phase. Table 1, “Project List and Current Schedule,” which is provided at the of this fact sheet, provides a list and updated response schedule for each project site.
5. All actions associated with the Time Critical Removal Action (TCRA) to decontaminate the NWP of Culebra are complete. As a result of the TCRA, a total of 31 munitions that were determined to be UXO were destroyed and removed from the Congressionally authorized areas in the NWP. Over 72,800 pounds of MD was assessed by trained personnel and determined to pose no explosive hazard; following completion of this assessment, the MD was processed and recycled. With completion of the TCRA, the Secretary of the Army has reached the conclusion that the goal of Congress under PL 113-291 for these areas has been met.
6. USACE has implemented and maintained a robust 3Rs (Recognize, Retreat, Report) Explosives Safety Education Program. The 3Rs Program informs the public of the military’s past use of Culebra, the potential to encounter and dangers associated with munitions, and the actions to take should they encounter or suspect they have encountered a munition. The extensive community outreach incorporated in the 3Rs Program includes holding community meetings, completing mailings to each mailbox holder on Culebra, and having teams on the ground during high-visitor periods to distribute 3Rs Program safety and education materials to hundreds of visitors at arrival points and businesses frequented by tourists.

Table 1: MRS List and Current Schedule