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3/17/2016 Information Resources | Enforcement | US EPA

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Enforcement

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Your Name:Mary Ann Lucking, Director,

CORALations

Your Email: [email protected]

Your Address: PO Box 750

Your City: Culebra

Your State: Puerto Rico

Your Zip: 00775

Your Phone: 787-556-6234

Suspected Violation Date: 03/15/2016

Suspected Violator Name:AFI and Desarrollos Metropolitanos,

LLC

Suspected Violator Address: 207 Diez de Andino Street

Suspected Violator City: San Juan,

Suspected Violator State: Puerto Rico

Suspected Violator Zip: 00912

Still Occurring: yes

Notified State DEP/DEQ/DEM: no

Characterized incident as:

Intent: Intentional

Type: Release

Media: Land

Media: Water

Entity: Government/Military

In a coastal area known to be the birth

place of Old San Juan, the Project

known as Paseo Lineal located on the

coast of Puerta de Tierra, above the

historic ruins of the fort known as

Bataría de Bajamar, the Third Line of

Defense of the Old City, a shorline

project has removed without demolition

permits a retaining wall placed in an

area locally protected by green zoning

restrictions because of its ecologic



Description of incident or hazard:

fragility, high archeological treasuresand known ceremonial pre-Columbianburrial grounds. Temporary erosioncontrol fabric has been installed butdownland, and directly on the beach inthe tide line. Huge trackscavators areinhialating the cliff face. The coastalwaters are listed as Critical Habitat forendangered corals, and these listedcorals and associated Essential FishHabitat is found just offshore. On March15th a photograph of a tube pumpingwater and mud from the top constructionarea directly to the beach. While wehave seen an NPDES ConstructionStorm Water Discharge Permit issued toAFI and previous contractors Omega forthis site, both AFI and Omega indicatedthere were no endangered species,critical habitat or historic artifacts ofparticular concern at this site in theirsubmittal to EPA. The removal of theretaining wall destabilized the shore andunearthed cavities seen in aerial photosthat likely corresponded to these Pre-Columbian ceremonial burrial grounds.Despite multiple complaints issued tofederal and municipal agencies involvedin this project, the egregiousconstruction practices continue toescalate. No public hearings were everheld for this project. archeologicaltreasures and known ceremonial pre-Columbian burrial grounds. Temporaryerosion control fabric is installed, but onthe beach in the tide line of the coastalwaters listed as Critical Habitat for listedendangered corals, and Essential FishHabitat found just offshore. On March15th was photographed a tube pumpingwater and mud from a recent rainfalldirectly to the beach. While we haveseen an NPDES Construction StormWater Discharge Permit issued to AFIand previous contractors Omega for thissite, both AFI and Omega indicatedthere were no endangered species,critical habitat or historic artifacts ofparticular concern at this site. Theremoval of the retaining walldestabilized the shore and unearthedcavities seen in aerial photos that likelycorresponded to these Pre-Columbianceremonial burrial grounds. Despitemultiple complaints issued to federaland municipal agencies involved in thisproject, the egregious constructionpractices continue to escalate.



Specific Directions:

The site is located on the northern shore

of Puerta de Tierra directly to the North

of the National Guard building and

directly to the S of the ruins of the Fort

known as the Bataría de Bajamar, which

comprised the Old City's Third Line of

Defense. Illegal shoreline demolition

photos:

http://www.coralations.phanfare.com/7171142#imageID=256159300

Illegal Discharge Tube Photo:

http://coralations.phanfare.com/7172965#imageID=256115731

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Last updated on August 27, 2014

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