6/16/2017 Gmail - Notice of earth moving of repeat offender and doable policy changes

CORALationsCulebra<coralations@gmail.com>

Noticeofearthmovingofrepeatoffenderanddoablepolicychanges
1message

CORALationsCulebra<coralations@gmail.com> Thu,Jun15,2017at1:15PM
To:Guerrero.Carmen@epa.gov,JaimeLopez<lopez.jaime@epa.gov>,KerryKehoeNOAAFederal
<kerry.kehoe@noaa.gov>,EdwinMuniz<edwin_muniz@fws.gov>,SusanSilander<Susan_Silander@fws.gov>,"Hon.
AlcaldeWilliamISolis"<ivansolis2013@gmail.com>,CelsoRivera<riveracelso@hotmail.com>,RupertoChaparro
<ruperto.chaparro@upr.edu>,CoralParrilla<coral_parrilla@yahoo.com>,ErnestoDiaz<ediaz@drna.gobierno.pr>,Felix
Lopez<felix_lopez@fws.gov>,IsraelUmpierre<israelumpierre@gmail.com>,"Carbone,JoeC.EOP/CEQ"
<Joseph_C_Carbone@ceq.eop.gov>
Cc:EdwinHernandezDelgado<edwin.hernandezdelgado@gmail.com>,KathyGannett<kbg00765@gmail.com>,Ismael
GuadalupeOrtiz<viequerito@gmail.com>,PedroSaadeLlorens<pedrosaade5@gmail.com>,"abelvalepr@gmail.com"
<abelvalepr@gmail.com>,LuisJorgeRiveraHerrera<idspr@hotmail.com>,MiguelSarrieraRoman
<miguelsarriera@yahoo.com>,AndreaTreece<atreece@earthjustice.org>,SteveMashuda<smashuda@earthjustice.org>,
MiyokoSakashita<miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org>,LourdesFeliciano<culebramarinecenter@yahoo.com>,Roberto
ViqueiraRos<rviqueira@protectoresdecuencasinc.org>,SamuelSuleiman<samuelsuleiman@gmail.com>
Bcc:"RicardoJ.ColnRivera"<ricardojcolon@gmail.com>

DearMs.Guerrero,Mr.LopezandallNamedGovernmentOfficialsandnongovernmentalinterestscopied:

ThisemailistoinformyouthatVictorManuelMoralesMoralesresumedearthmovingadjacentto,anduplandfromthe
intermittentriverthatservestoshedwaterfromthesouthfaceofMt.ResacaonCulebra,PuertoRico.Theriverbed
passesthroughthepropertyproposedforverydensedevelopment.Moreimportantly,thisprojectservesasanexcellent
casestudytoillustratetheneedfortwoverysimple,butimportantpolicychangesthatwouldresultinanenormous
conservationopportunityforthesmall,ecologicallysensitivearchipelagoofCulebra.

Pleasetakeamomenttoreplythatyoureceivedthisemail.

Since2003,thesamelandownerhasproposedmanydifferentsegregationsinthisarea,howeverthenumbersoflots
proposedhaveremainedlessthanten.ThemostrecentcategoricalexclusionissuedbyOGPe,#2015055635DEC
076647(A),indicatesarequestforcommercialvarianceanda38lotsegregationon5,500squarefeetofsteepsloping,
highlyerodiblevolcanicsoillocateduplandandaroundthispowerfulintermittentriver.

CORALationshasbeennotifyingagenciesregardingthedestructivelandusemanagementpracticesatthissitesincethe
early2000s,whenanunsustainablesegregationwaspermittedillegallywiththehelpofengineerBeningnoRodriguez,
(whostillpractices)bytheMunicipalPlanningBoardofPonce.ThiswasstoppedbyCulebra'spastMayor,theHon.Ivan
Romero,howeverthedestructiveearthmovingpracticeshavereturned,againandagain,withnewattemptsatobtaining
variancepermits.

PastoffensesatthisprojectwerewelldocumentedinaNoticeofIntenttosueissuedbyEarthJusticeonourbehalf
regardingpreviouscleanwateractviolationsatthissite.(B)Thisdocumentpreparedbylicensedattorneys,listspast
violationsandfinesfromfederalactionstakenagainstMoralesinthepast,atthissite.

Mostconfusingtodayisthatthecurrentpermitsignatthesiteindicatestheheavyequipmentoperatorassociatedwith
pastunsustainablelandclearingactivitiesnowownspartofthisproject.Itappearsthehistoriclandownerisapplyingfor
alotification,andhisheavyequipmentoperatorisapplyingforthecommercialvariance.Twosignspostedatthesame
siteindicatetwodifferentpropietariosdespitetherespective"CCO"andlotificationnumberslistedforthesitestill
pendingapproval.(C,page4)Clearlyiftheproposedsegregationsarestillpending,wethinkitunlikelytheheavy
equipmentoperatorhaslegalownershipoftheland,butatthispointitisdifficultforcitizenstotellgiventhealmost
completelackoftransparencyinthelocalplanningprocessforCulebra.

ThiscaseservestoillustratethatpermittingpolicyconflictsaredamagingCulebra,however,thattheseissuescanbe
easilyrectifiedwithsimplepolicychanges,isagreatopportunity.Twosimplepolicyactionscanbetakentobetterprotect
theislandconsistentwithLaw66,1975(asamended)whichwascodifiedinexchangeforfederalmanagementfunds
throughtheCulebraSegmentofPuertoRicosCoastalZoneManagementPlan,backinthe70's.

Inthisrespect,andinadditiontoreportingnewandillegallandclearingunderwaybythisdeveloper,weseekagency
leadershiptoopenadialogueregardingthedefinitionandimplementationofaclearpolicychangewithdiscussionand

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6/16/2017 Gmail - Notice of earth moving of repeat offender and doable policy changes
collaborationwiththeCulebraConservationandDevelopmentAuthority.Specificallythiscaseillustratestheneedfor
Culebratomoreproactivelyprohibit:

1.EnvironmentalpermitsissuedbyfasttrackenvironmentalcategoricalexclusionsatOGPe,and,
2.theprohibitionofchronicreapplicationforpermitsforrejectedurbanizations,asthisfacilitatescorruptionandcosts
theagenciesmoneyregardingrepeatplanninganalysis.

Culebraisatraditionallyunderserved,lowincome,environmentaljusticecommunity.Thereislittletonotransparency
withinthelocalpermittingprocess.OGPe'sofficesandfilesarealllocatedonadifferentislandandarenotaccessiblein
theirentiretyforspecificprojectswithouttheadditionalexpenseoftimeandtravel.ItappearsthattheCulebra
ConservationandDevelopmentAuthorityhasyettoestablishpolicyforthepublicacquisitionofdocuments.

ProjectLocationandAdditionalInformation:

Accordingtothesignpostedonsite(C,page1),thePropietariosareEdwinFalconRamosandVictorManuelMorales
Morales.Wehaveneverseen"propietario"asacategorylistedonanOGPesigninthepastbutweunderstandfasttrack
amendmentshavebeenrecentlymadetoLaw161,2009andwecannotkeeptrackthosecomplexpolicychangeslet
aloneanythatfollowed.

The"Proyectista"indicatedonthesignis"Ing.ErnestoVega."

TheattachedEarthJusticeNoticeofIntenttosuesenttoEPAonNovember19,2014,hasdetailsregardingMorales
contactaddressesandrepeatoffenses,preparedbyalicensedattorney.(B)

Thelotnumberis:47300000616,andtheprojectphysicaladdressisCarr.250InteriorKm.1.2,SectorResaca,
Flamenco,PuertoRico.

(C,page2)

Theareaofriverbedthisprojectimpactswasapartofafederallyfundedwatershedrestorationprojectcompletedin
2012.ThisrestorationprojectwasconductedbythenongovernmentalorganizationsProtectoresdelasCuencasand
RidgetoReef.WeunderstandthatthisprojectincludedamanagementcontractwithapreviousMayorforCulebra's
DepartmentofPublicWorkstomaintaintheriverbedinastableandrevegetatedstate.

OnMarch17,2014,localagencies,includingthepreviousSecretaryfortheDepartmentofNaturalandEnvironmental
Resources,andthepreviousPresidentofOGPe,andHousingconductedasitevisit.

ThePlanningBoardsGeoLocalizadorwebpageandanaerialgoogleearthimagetakenin2015depictstheareacleared
whenviewedbymanagersinatthe2014visit.Therivercanbeseenoutlinedingreeninthegoogleimagery.(C,pages
2and3)

RecentclearingresumedtheweekendofMay13thand14thof2017.TheattachedphotosweretakenatthesiteonMay
17,2017,(C,page1)showthenewearthmoving,andtwonewsignsreferencingaconsultationnumberforazoning
variancethatrequestsacommercialchangeinzoning,anda38lotsegregationforanurbandevelopment:#2015
059418CCO001658..(Note:Theoriginalphotoswithaccurateextendedfileinfoisavailableuponrequest.)

CategoricalExclusions

TheabovereferencedCCOwasissued2017427,andisbasedontheblatantabuseofacategoricalexclusion,#2015
055635DEC076647,issuedin2015.(A)Thereisacategoricalexclusionissuedinsupportofapreviousandcomplex
fillprojectatthissite,whereculvertswereinstalledto"bridge"theheavyequipmentmovingonthesiteacrosstheriver
bedandpossiblytoserveasamorepermanentroadbridgeforaccesstothesteeplotsoftheproposedurbanization.
Thiscatexclusion#2013167421DEC70573,wasissuedbytheagencyonthesamedayitwasappliedfor,(C,
page4),despitethecomplexnatureoftheworkwhichrequiredFederalpermitsfromtheUSArmyCorpsofEngineers,
andtheecologicalsensitivityofthearea,protectivezoningregs,andthephysicalinstabilityofthesteepslopingvolcanic
soil.Theseimpactsandtheecologicalsensitivityofthisareaaredescribedingreaterdetailinthenoticeofintenttosue
lettersentonourbehalfbyEarthJusticeinNovemberof2014.(B)

NolandmovingorPlanCEShavebeenappliedforaccordingtotheonline,SuperSippendingpermitslist,althoughitis
notcleartousifOGPeevenrequirestheseorrequiresthemtobepostedbecausewehaveneverseenthemonline.(C,
page4)

TheuseofcategoricalexclusiononCulebraisaviolationofPRLaw66,1975(asamended).Thislawwasthe
codificationoftheCulebraSegmentoftheU.S.CoastalZoneManagementPlan,andpassedtodemonstratecompliance
neededtoobtainfederalcoastalzonemanagementfunding.Thislawestablishedaspublicpolicytheprotectionof

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6/16/2017 Gmail - Notice of earth moving of repeat offender and doable policy changes
Culebra'sspectacularecologicalresourcesforfuturegenerations.Mostdisturbing,abuseofcategoricalexclusions
obtainedthesamedayissupportingdramaticvariances.Categoricalexclusionshavebeendocumentedsupportingthe
constructionofillegalguesthouseconstructionandoperationnowcompromisingthespiritandintentofpublicparcela
policytoprotecttheinterestsoflocalislandresidents.Categoricalexclusionsarealsosupportingfasttrackconstruction
ofhazardouscellphonetowersinsensitiveecologicalandorneighborhoodareas.Fromdataobservedonline,the
permittingsystemhasagainchanged,againwithnomeaningfulpublicparticipation,andtodaythelengthoftimefrom
applicationtoissuanceofanenvironmentalcategoricalexclusionisnolongervisibletothepublic.However,frompast
planningreviewcases,wehaveobservedthattheturnaroundtimehastypicallybeenlessthanaday,andwecansend
evidenceofthisfromothercasesuponrequest.

ZoningFraud

Itmustbenotedthatzoningchangeshappened2012,duringelectoraltransition.ThiswasmadebythenMayorof
Culebra,andthethenGovernorofPuertoRico,RicardoLopezCepedo,GovernorLuisFortuoandSenatorMcClintock,
withoutbenefitofpublicnoticeorparticipation,duringthetransitionofadministrationsonDecember27,2012.Justbefore
leavingoffice,theyrushedaninadequate"PlandeOrdinacinTerritorial"includingblanketandunsubstantiatedzoning
changesthroughadministrativechannelswithnopublicparticipation.(DandE)Law61,2009,failedtoretainintact
verbiagespecifictoCulebra'sspecialzoningthatwasspecificallycodifiedtoprotectCulebraundertheCoastalZone
ManagementPlan.WhileplanningboardReg#4includedspecialsectionsforCulebraregardingthesespecialzoning
definitions,thiswaslostwiththeimplementationofLaw161,2009,directlycompromisingthecodificationoftheCulebra
SegmentoftheCoastalZoneManagementPlan,andcoastalzonemanagementfundingforPuertoRico.Alsotherewas
noSection7oversightfromUSFishandWildlifeServicenortheNationalMarineFisheriesServicedespitethemultiple
criticalhabitatandendangeredspeciesdesignationsthatapplytoCulebra,andalsodespitethepresenceofalarge
NationalWildlifeRefugealsodirectlyimpactedbythezoningchanges.Therewasnonotificationtopropertyowners
affectedbythesezoningchanges,onthetraditionallyunderserved,environmentaljusticemunicipalislandofCulebra.
WequestioniftherewasevenanACDECrevieworendorsementgiventheplanandbillpassedinlessthanaweekjust
daysbeforethenewadministrationcamein.(DandE)

PROTECTIVEZONING

Themostrecentversionoftheprojectnowmovingaccordingtopermitnumberslistedonthissign,isbeingproposedin
anareaillegallyrezonedRO5C,bythepastadministration.

ROzoningseekstomaintainlocalresidentialuseofthelandswithrespecttoprotectingtheplantsandanimalsfortheir
importanceeconomically,ecologicallyandscientifically,aswellastoprotectareasunsuitablefordevelopmentbecauseof
theirphysicalconstraintsorareasofsharedpublicconcernliketheriverbed.

The"5"referstodensityandreflectsonehouseperfivecuerdas.ThispreviousprotectivezoningwasRO25extremely
lowdensity,andwasconsideredecologicallyprotective.

CWAandRecentClearing

Whileitdoesnotappearthatgreaterthananacrehasbeenrecentlyrecleared,theCWAindicatesALLprojectsthatplan
anacreormoreofclearingrequireanNPDESstormwaterdischargepermit.Themostrecentcategoricalexclusion
issuedforthisprojectfromOGPesupooprts38solaresorlotsonjust55,000sqftofland.Thecontinuedlackofany
visibleerosioncontrolplanespeciallygiventhesoiltypeandproximityoftheclearingtothepowerfulintermittentriver,
continuestobeagreatconcern.(A)

GOINGFORWARD

Inadditiontothisnotification,wewouldliketorequestifitispossibletocoordinateamultiagencymeetingatyourearliest
possibleconveniencetodiscussthecontinuedabuseofcategoricalexclusionsthroughtheOGPefasttrackpermitting
system,specificallyregardingCulebraandconflictsthispresentswithLey66,1975(asamended.)Asreflectedbythis
caseandothercasestudiesweareincreasinglyconcernedabouttheislandsplanningasatimewhenwearealso
observingunprecedentedenvironmentaldegradationofcoastalresourcesduetolandbasedsourcesofpollutionrunning
offintoourwarmingcoastalwaters.(PersonalcommunicationDr.EdwinAlexisHernandezDelgado,May2016)

Webelievecaseslikethisdemonstratetheneedtorectifytheabuseofcategoricalexclusion,inordertomeaningfully
protectthesmallislandofCulebra,andthatdoingsoisnotjustconsistentwithplansandregulationsdefinedbythe
CulebraSegmentoftheCoastalZoneManagementplan,andLaw66,1975(asamended),butthischangeisnecessary
inorderforthefederalagenciestocomplytotheUSFederalCleanWaterAct,theUSEndangeredSpeciesAct,andthe
NationalEnvironmentalProtectionAct.Theimplementationofthesefederallawsdemandsaclear,understandable,
legitimateandtransparentlocalplanningprocessinordertomaintainwatersswimmablefishable,andingeneraltofulfill
themanynondisgretionaldutiesofFederaloversightasdefinedbytheseimportantActs.

RemovingCategoricalExclusionasapermittingoptionforCulebrawouldbeasimplebutgreatpolicychangeintheright
direction.EndingtheburdenonOGPeplannersreevaluatingandreevaluatingprojectsalreadyrejected,wouldsave
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6/16/2017 Gmail - Notice of earth moving of repeat offender and doable policy changes
PuertoRicotheirpreciousandlimitedfinancialandhumanresources.ProtectingecologicallysensitivelandsofCulebra
makeseconomicsensewhereconservingecologymeansecotourismdevelopment.Theaquaticresourcesofthe
archipelagoofCulebraaretooimportant,andtheislandtoosmalltocontinuetoallowthisabuseofthepermitting
process.Thesetwosimplerecommendedpolicychangeswillmakeameaningfuldifferenceontheground,managing
landbasesourcesofpollutionforCulebraswatersheds.

Sincerely,

MaryAnnLucking
Director
CORALations
P.O.Box750
Culebra,PR00775
www.coralations.org
787.556.6234
email:maryann@coralations.org,coralations@gmail.com

TrabajandoconcomunidadesdelCaribeparaprotegeryrestaurar
susarrecifesdecoral.

<<><<<>>><>>

WorkingwithCaribbeancommunitiestoprotectandrestoretheircoralreefs.

SupportdocumentationA,BandDisattached.LargerfilesCandEcanbeviewedordownloadedfromthelinksbelow.
Pleaseletmeknowifyouhavetroubleaccessingfiles.

C:https://www.scribd.com/document/351375354/Attachmentcp14Moralesresaca

E:https://www.scribd.com/document/180777409/VolumenIMemorialPOTCulebraFinal26dic2012Firmadopdf

MaryAnnLucking
Director
CORALations
P.O.Box750
Culebra,PR00775
www.coralations.org
787.556.6234
email:maryann@coralations.org,coralations@gmail.com

TrabajandoconcomunidadesdelCaribeparaprotegeryrestaurar
susarrecifesdecoral.

<<><<<>>><>>

WorkingwithCaribbeancommunitiestoprotectandrestoretheircoralreefs.

3attachments
ATTACHMENTA_Morales2015055635DEC076647.pdf
399K
ATTACHMENTB_EarthJustice_Morales_NoticeLetterMoralesFinalsigned3.pdf
1112K
ATTACHMENTDPlandeOrdinacionTerritorialdeCulebrapdf.pdf
337K

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