1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

CORALations Culebra <coralations@gmail.com>

RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

1 message

Ortiz, Hector <Ortiz.Hector@epa.gov> Wed, Dec 14, 2022 at 1:01 PM

To: CORALations Culebra <coralations@gmail.com>
Cc: Ruperto Chaparro <ruperto.chaparro@upr.edu>, "Geliga, Jaime" <Geliga.Jaime@epa.gov>, Jose Sepulveda Sanchez
<Jose.SEPULVEDA@acueductospr.com>, Milton Diaz Diaz <Milton.DIAZ@acueductospr.com>, "Guerrero, Carmen" <guerrero.carmen@epa.gov>,
Lourdes Feliciano <culebramarine@yahoo.com>, "culebra.reserva.natural@gmail.com" <culebra.reserva.natural@gmail.com>, Nicolás Gómez
<nicolas.x.gomez@gmail.com>, "alfredo.a.montanez@gmail.com" <alfredo.a.montanez@gmail.com>, Digna Feliciano <dfeli42@yahoo.com>, Edwin Alexis
Hernandez <edwin.hernandezdelgado@gmail.com>, aelugo1234 <aelugo1234@gmail.com>, Winnie Marquez <winniemarquez@gmail.com>, Abimarie
Otaño Cruz <abimarie.otano@gmail.com>, Ricardo Colón-Rivera <ricardojcolon@gmail.com>, Dulce Maria del Rio-Pineda <dulceculebra@gmail.com>,
Digna feliciano <dignafeliciano42@gmail.com>, Ricardo Lugo <ricardo.juan.lugo@gmail.com>

Good afternoon Mary Lurking:

I’m referring your concerns to PRASA. They are working to eliminate the problems with Culebra’s Vacuum Sanitary System very fast. If you have more
information please send it to us. Photos attached would help a lot. They are sending personnel today to deal with the sanitary sewer overflows. I shared
your email explaining the situation of foul odors with them.

Héctor D. Ortiz

Environmental Engineer

Telephone (787) 977-5883

Municipal Water Program Branch

USEPA - Caribbean Environmental Protection Division

City View Plaza II

48 Carr. 165 Ste 7000

Guaynabo, PR 00968-8073

From: CORALations Culebra <coralations@gmail.com>

Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2022 2:38 PM
To: Ortiz, Hector <Ortiz.Hector@epa.gov>
Cc: Ruperto Chaparro <ruperto.chaparro@upr.edu>; Geliga, Jaime <Geliga.Jaime@epa.gov>; Jose Sepulveda Sanchez
<Jose.SEPULVEDA@acueductospr.com>; Milton Diaz Diaz <Milton.DIAZ@acueductospr.com>; Guerrero, Carmen <guerrero.carmen@epa.gov>;
Lourdes Feliciano <culebramarine@yahoo.com>; culebra.reserva.natural@gmail.com; Nicolás Gómez <nicolas.x.gomez@gmail.com>;
alfredo.a.montanez@gmail.com; Digna Feliciano <dfeli42@yahoo.com>; Edwin Alexis Hernandez <edwin.hernandezdelgado@gmail.com>; aelugo1234
<aelugo1234@gmail.com>; Winnie Marquez <winniemarquez@gmail.com>; Abimarie Otaño Cruz <abimarie.otano@gmail.com>; Ricardo Colón-Rivera
<ricardojcolon@gmail.com>; Dulce Maria del Rio-Pineda <dulceculebra@gmail.com>; Digna feliciano <dignafeliciano42@gmail.com>; Ricardo Lugo
<ricardo.juan.lugo@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

Dear Mr. Ortiz: 

Thank you for contacting us.

We appreciate EPA's intervention and believe this issue needs to be escalated to an emergency.  

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 1/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra
 

I don't think we can interpret or allege any nefarious intentions of the government not responding to septic issues on Culebra, despite the recent
lessons-learned from Flint Michigan. At least none than I can speak to.  We can only report the problem, and document when government continues to
fail to respond.   

I tried reporting to AAA yesterday in Hato Rey - was sent to another office of a private contractor called Oman? not sure of their name.  

I was ultimately unable to file a formal complaint. I cannot speak as to the government's intention on the reporting problems either, but a cynical public
could conclude that the government makes it difficult to report to avoid accountability. 

Regarding the potable water line concerns, it was explained once that the water moving through the potable tubes creates a venturi current which has in
the past apparently pulled in septic water from the grounds where the tube passes.  This involves tiny perforations in old tubing from wear and tear..  I
don't know.  There is likely no evil-doer adding black waters to potable here but that does not mean the government is not responsible to fix problems
we cannot even begin to identify the technical source of or reasons for.  

I cannot estimate the amount of black water being spilled today.  I guess we would need to look at the gallons per day normal for this time of year that
the local plant treats and assess the difference in the gallons treated today?   However, there's also multiple variables. 

Sunday night I can testify that I started a load of laundry using city water and it really smelled septic.   I don't know the source. 

It smells better now.  We don't know what is going on.   We are reporting a serious problem.   It is an emergency. 

I believe it should be treated as criminal neglect, but I'm not an attorney, and where the responsible party is a government agency, the agencies are
never held criminally responsible.

We also should not have to provide a complete causal analysis or legal breakdown to report what appears to be serious and systemic problems
that present serious risks like this for public health and the environment on Culebra. 

This includes analysis regarding a complicated and sensitive vacuum sewer system as well as complicated procedures for people to file complaints and
concerns. 

Thank you again for your attention to this issue.  

787-390-3133 / 787-556-6234

On Tue, Dec 13, 2022 at 8:50 AM Ortiz, Hector <Ortiz.Hector@epa.gov> wrote:

Good morning to all:

Could you clarify what is happening? I would like to send an email to PRASA regarding this issue but the information provided is not clear. Who is
discharging sewage into the drinking water lines in Culebra. Where is the place of the illegal connection? How is this happening? What do you think
PRASA should do to stop this situation? How many gallons of sewage were discharged and how many entered in the drinking water line? And finally
do you report this situation to PRASA and what was there answer?

Remember this is criminal accusation. If someone is doing this on purpose could be a criminal case because is endangering the health of the people
in Culebra.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 2/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

Héctor D. Ortiz

Environmental Engineer

Telephone (787) 977-5883

Municipal Water Program Branch

USEPA - Caribbean Environmental Protection Division

City View Plaza II

48 Carr. 165 Ste 7000

Guaynabo, PR 00968-8073

From: CORALations Culebra <coralations@gmail.com>

Sent: Monday, December 12, 2022 9:41 AM
To: Ruperto Chaparro <ruperto.chaparro@upr.edu>
Cc: Guerrero, Carmen <guerrero.carmen@epa.gov>; Ortiz, Hector <Ortiz.Hector@epa.gov>; Lourdes Feliciano <culebramarine@yahoo.com>;
culebra.reserva.natural@gmail.com; Nicolás Gómez <nicolas.x.gomez@gmail.com>; alfredo.a.montanez@gmail.com; Digna Feliciano
<dfeli42@yahoo.com>; Edwin Alexis Hernandez <edwin.hernandezdelgado@gmail.com>; aelugo1234 <aelugo1234@gmail.com>; Winnie Marquez
<winniemarquez@gmail.com>; Abimarie Otaño Cruz <abimarie.otano@gmail.com>; Ricardo Colón-Rivera <ricardojcolon@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

Apparently not the fault of local water company-  AAA hired contractors that of course are not here.     Im heading to the AAA office today- 

The city water may have has sewage in it as well.   I think the small leaks in the pipes pull in the septic waters into potable lines- 

Culebra is again being destroyed. 

EPA has witnessed illegal segregations in Sept 18 2021 site visit. 

We would not be in such an akward position as we are today, with one  illegal segregation moving that was stopped in the past that the PNP's are
characterizing as CORALations against the Culebrenses- 

On Dec 11, 2022, at 9:35 PM, Ruperto Chaparro <ruperto.chaparro@upr.edu> wrote:


https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 3/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra
Mary Ann: This treatment is not appropriate to human beings. Who is in charge? Chapa 

From: CORALations Culebra <coralations@gmail.com>

Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2022 12:49 PM
To: Guerrero, Carmen <Guerrero.Carmen@epa.gov>; Hector Ortiz <Ortiz.Hector@epa.gov>
Cc: Lourdes Feliciano <culebramarine@yahoo.com>; Ruperto Chaparro <ruperto.chaparro@upr.edu>; culebra.reserva.natural@gmail.
com <culebra.reserva.natural@gmail.com>; Nicolás Gómez <nicolas.x.gomez@gmail.com>; alfredo.a.montanez@gmail.com
<alfredo.a.montanez@gmail.com>; Digna Feliciano <dfeli42@yahoo.com>; Edwin Alexis Hernandez
<edwin.hernandezdelgado@gmail.com>; aelugo1234 <aelugo1234@gmail.com>; Winnie Marquez <winniemarquez@gmail.com>;
Abimarie Otaño Cruz <abimarie.otano@gmail.com>; Ricardo Colón-Rivera <ricardojcolon@gmail.com>
Subject: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

Saludos Carmen and Hector: 

Since circulating on social media that CORALations reported AAA manhole spillovers to EPA yesterday, we were made aware of
serious problems with house connections to this system as well. 

ECHO directs people to report emergencies to a different number. Since these issues have become chronic, we reported through the
online EHCO system hoping for a record. 

Thank you for personally acknowledging reciept of the complaint, as well as concerns with ECHO online reporting system.  

The decision was made not to call emergency line so there could be a record, but in seeing these problems with back ups into peoples
homes, this is clearly an island wide emergency that deserves immediate response by regulatory. 

Culebra's vacuum sewer system is rare, and it is prone to clogs. 

Ruperto Chaparro of Sea Grant agreed to help produce effective educational information for commercial establishments to try and
reduce clogs. He again reiterated a commitment made during an online discussion in 2021 when the pump-out station clogged and
sent thousands of gallons of black water down into cemetary salt flats and the bay. 

EPA cannot regulate functioning septic tanks not harming environment, when the alternative municipal solution is resulting in so much
damage. 

As coastal waters continue to warm, this contamination will proliferate organisms pathogenic to humans as well as marine creatures
and we are still in a time of pandemic. 

The situation with ambulances and EMT's on Culebra teaches a lesson that just because a problem is chronic on Culebra, an island
forgotten by local and federal regulators that does try to do its best against many odds, may not mean the problems or issues are small
or that the problems or issues are not emergencies. 

This is an island wide emergency. 

Please see screen shots below from facebook today- 

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 4/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 5/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 6/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 7/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra
On Dec 9, 2022, at 4:38 PM, Guerrero, Carmen <Guerrero.Carmen@epa.gov> wrote:

Igual a ti!

From: CORALations Culebra <coralations@gmail.com>

Sent: Friday, December 9, 2022 4:37 PM
To: Guerrero, Carmen <guerrero.carmen@epa.gov>
Subject: Re: AAA septic spillovers and EPA- ECHO reporting problems

Gracias Carmen y Felicidades 

On Dec 9, 2022, at 4:32 PM, Guerrero, Carmen <Guerrero.Carmen@epa.gov> wrote:

Saludos Mary Ann!  Hope this message finds you well. 

EPA confirms receipt of your complaint and assigns it the following complaint number: ID557.  Thank you
for sharing this information.

Hector Ortiz from our Caribbean Division’s Municipal Water Program Branch will be reaching out to follow
up on this complaint.  He is copied in this email.

Thanks!
Carmen  

From: CORALations Culebra <coralations@gmail.com>

Sent: Friday, December 9, 2022 3:43 PM
To: Guerrero, Carmen <guerrero.carmen@epa.gov>; Rivera, Jose <Rivera.Jose@epa.gov>; Ortiz, Hector
<Ortiz.Hector@epa.gov>; Kerry Kehoe - NOAA Federal <kerry.kehoe@noaa.gov>; SecretariaJP
<secretariajp@jp.pr.gov>; Hon. Edilberto Romero <alcaldeculebra2021@gmail.com>; Lcda. Margaret
Ramírez-Báez <mramirez@ramirezbaezlaw.com>; ACDEC <tu.junta.acdec@gmail.com>
Cc: Ruperto Chaparro <ruperto.chaparro@upr.edu>; aelugo1234 <aelugo1234@gmail.com>; Edwin
Hernandez-Delgado <edwin.hernandezdelgado@gmail.com>; Lourdes Feliciano
<culebramarine2@gmail.com>; Digna feliciano <dignafeliciano42@gmail.com>; Nicolás Gómez
<nicolas.x.gomez@gmail.com>; Richard Gautier <ot.culebra2021@gmail.com>;
alfredo.a.montanez@gmail.com; Abimarie Otaño Cruz <abimarie.otano@gmail.com>; Winnie Marquez
<winniemarquez@gmail.com>
Subject: AAA septic spillovers and EPA- ECHO reporting problems

Saludos All: 

We filed this complaint through EPA online with the ECHO reporting system. 

(https://echo.epa.gov/report-environmental-violations)

The system would not allow us to upload the map or a jpeg of this document with the complaint and the
map of the problem areas.   The graphics we wanted to upload were within the required size parameters.  

The system indicated the verbal complaint was taken, but it needs the graphic to illustrate where the
current problems are.  

No email came confirming the complaint had been registered.  

 
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 8/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra
How do we go about registering a formal complaint with the EPA today?  

Specifically, we would appreciate confirmation a complaint was received and a number corresponding to

the complaint for a follow-up.  

A .pdf of the complaint is attached. 

Thank you very much in advance to the agencies notified for responding that you received this complaint
and for the corresponding complaint number. 

--

Mary Ann Lucking 

Director 

CORALations 
P.O. Box 750 
Culebra, PR 00775 
www.coralations.org   
787.556.6234     787-390-3133
email:  maryann@coralations.org, coralations@gmail.com

 
 
Trabajando con comunidades del Caribe para proteger y restaurar
sus arrecifes de coral.

<<><<<>>><>> 

Working with Caribbean communities to protect and restore their coral reefs.

--

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 9/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra
Mary Ann Lucking 
Director 

CORALations 
P.O. Box 750 
Culebra, PR 00775 
www.coralations.org   
787.556.6234     
email:  maryann@coralations.org, coralations@gmail.com

 
 
Trabajando con comunidades del Caribe para proteger y restaurar
sus arrecifes de coral.

<<><<<>>><>> 

Working with Caribbean communities to protect and restore their coral reefs.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&s… 10/11
1/10/23, 7:45 AM Gmail - RE: AAA EMERGENCY Culebra

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=bf7a11e4c1&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1751937039984206624%7Cmsg-f%3A1752209621344611916&si… 11/11