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Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS)

Culebra, Puerto Rico
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Culebra, Puerto Rico

The island of Culebra, and its associated islands (cayos or keys), are located 17 miles east of the mainland of Puerto Rico and 9 miles north of the island of Vieques. 

The Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) was established by Section 211 of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986.

Between 1903 and 1975, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps used Culebra to resupply coal on ships, communications, and training.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) divided the island and cayos into project areas in order to prioritize environmental investigations to address the potential presence of munitions (click the Project Area tab to left to see a map and list).  This prioritization did not include the area designated as the Northwest Peninsula since the law that authorized transferring the property from the Navy to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico prohibits the use of federal funds for its cleanup.  However, Congress did authorize restoration of some recreational areas within the Northwest Peninsula, specifically, portions of the Carlos Rosario, Tamarindo, and Flamenco beaches; Carlos Rosario Trail; and the Flamenco campground.

Click on the tabs to the left to find more information about the projects and to read documents from previous and current investigations.

Map, (Downloadable version)

map of Culebra outiling 15 FUDS project areas

List of Projects in Culebra, (Downloadable version)

PROJECT NUMBER PROJECT NAME PROJECT TYPE PHASE
00 US Navy Headquarters/ Maintenance Area Non Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
01 Not Used
02 Cerro Balcón Mortar Range and Adjacent Cayos (Land and Water) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
02 Cayo del Agua (Land) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
03 Flamenco Bay (Water) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
04 Flamenco Lagoon Maneuver Area (Land) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
05 Mortar and Combat Range Area (Land) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
06 Artillery Firing Area (Land) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
07 Culebrita Artillery Impact Area (Land and Water) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
07 Cayo Botella (Land) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
08 Cayo Norte Impact Area (Land) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
09 Soldado Point Mortar and Bombing Areas (Land and Water) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
10 Defensive Firing Area 1 (Land) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
11 Defensive Firing Area 2 (Land) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
12 Luis Peña Channel (Water) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
13 Cayo Luis Peña Impact Areas (Land and Water) Munitions Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study
14 Airport (Land) Munitions No Action Required
15 Community Relations On-Going Communication with Community
16 Congressionally Authorized Areas within the Northwest Peninsula (Land) Munitions Interim Removal Action

 

Field Work Schedule

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2 and 3 October 2019

Planned and Coordinated Demolition Operations - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor (Tetra Tech, Inc.) will destroy munitions located during underwater investigations in Luis Peña Channel on Wednesday, The munitions items will be destroyed in a designated area on land at Carlos Rosario Beach. INFO

El contratista del Cuerpo de Ingenieros (Tetra Tech, Inc.) estará destruyendo municiones encontradas durante los trabajos de investigación subacuáticos en el Canal Luis Peña.  Las municiones serán destruidas en un área designada en tierra en la Playa Carlos Rosario. INFO

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  26 and 27 September 2019

On Thursday September 26, 2019, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor (Parsons, Inc.) will destroy munitions located during underwater investigations in the waters around the cays.  The munitions will be destroyed in a designated area on land at Cayo Lobo. INFO

El jueves 26 de septiembre de 2019, el contratista del Cuerpo de Ingenieros (Parsons, Inc.) estará destruyendo municiones encontradas durante los trabajos de investigación subacuáticos alrededor de los cayos.  Las municiones serán destruidas en un área designada en tierra en Cayo Lobo.  INFO

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  8 and 9 October 2019

Planned and Coordinated Demolition Operations - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor (Tetra Tech, Inc.) will destroy munitions located during underwater investigations in Luis Peña Channel.  The munitions items will be destroyed in a designated area on land at Carlos Rosario Beach.  On Wednesday October 9, 2019, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor (Parsons, Inc.) will destroy munitions located during underwater investigations in the waters around the cays.  The munitions will be destroyed in a designated area on land at Cayo Lobo. INFO

Operaciones de Demolición Planificadas y Coordinadas - el contratista del Cuerpo de Ingenieros (Tetra Tech, Inc.) estará destruyendo municiones encontradas durante los trabajos de investigación subacuáticos en el Canal Luis Peña.  Las municiones serán destruidas en un área designada en tierra en la Playa Carlos Rosario. Rosario.  El miércoles 9 de octubre de 2019, el contratista del Cuerpo de Ingenieros (Parsons, Inc.) estará destruyendo municiones encontradas durante los trabajos de investigación subacuáticos alrededor de los cayos.  Las municiones serán destruidas en un área designada en tierra en Cayo Lobo. INFO

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September to December 2019

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor will be conducting underwater investigations in Flamenco Bay, Luis Peña Channel, surrounding cays and Culebrita from September to November 2019. This phase involves using divers to examine metallic objects to determine if they are munitions.  In addition, fieldwork activities associated with the Time Critical Removal Action on land at Cayo del Agua will be conducted from September to December 2019. INFO

Durante los meses de septiembre a noviembre del 2019, contratistas del Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejercito de los Estados Unidos, estarán llevando a cabo estudios subacuáticos en la Bahía Flamenco, el Canal Luis Peña, alrededor de los cayos y en Culebrita. Esta fase conlleva el uso de buzos para examinar objetos metálicos bajo agua y determinar si estos son municiones. También, durante los meses de septiembre a diciembre del 2019, se estarán llevando a cabo actividades relacionadas con la Acción de Remoción de Tiempo Critico terrestres en Cayo del Agua. INFO

 

 

Contact Information

Toll-Free 1-800-710-5184
FUDS.PuertoRico@usace.army.mil

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