Puerto Rico’s southeast coast has long been considered one of the U.S. territory’s most contaminated regions.
A resident of Salinas, considered one of the most contaminated towns in Puerto Rico, waits for a meeting with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials to start, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 in Salinas, Puerto Rico. Emboldened by the attention that the federal government has now placed in Salinas, communities are demanding a massive clean-up and penalties for those contaminating a region where residents have long complained about health conditions. .
Puerto Rico ranks 22nd out of 56 U.S. states and territories based on total managed waste released per square mile, at 4.2 million pounds. Six of the top 10 municipalities in that category are in Puerto Rico’s southern region, with Salinas ranked sixth, according to data obtained from the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory.
Salinas is a town of nearly 26,000 people — of which 28% identify as Black — with a median household income of $18,000 a year. More than half of its population is poor, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Scientists doing that study were forced to collect samples from individual homes because the government's water and sewer company at the time blocked access to aquifers that residents in the southeast rely on, environmental activist Víctor Alvarado said. Since then, legislators have approved a law that requires the company to provide access for testing.
Meleroe said she wants answers from federal officials about the contamination in her town. “They write down a lot of things, but I haven't seen any changes,” she said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Young Thug, YSL trial underway as lawyers challenge use of rap lyrics in RICO caseJury selection is underway in the Young Slime Life (YSL) RICO trial in Atlanta, where Grammy Award-winning rap artist Jeffery Williams, also known as Young Thug, is accused of leading the group described by authorities as a violent street gang.
Read more »
Puerto Rican Culture, Hospitality on the Board at the Stay and Play Game Cafe“First and foremost, we want to represent those three pieces — our Puerto Rican heritage, our love and affinity for Chicago and our passion for board games and how it brings community together.” LatinoVoicesWTTW
Read more »
Usain Bolt fires business manager over Jamaica fraud caseSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt told reporters Friday that he is baffled over how $12.7 million of his money has gone missing from a local private investment firm that authorities are investigating as part of a massive fraud that began more than a decade ago.
Read more »
Coast Guard, Navy and local responders search Monterey County coast for missing diverBy Thomas Hughes | Bay City News Foundation The US Coast Guard and other first responders continued a maritime search for a missing diver off of Fanshell Beach in Monterey County on Sunday, accordi…
Read more »
US Coast Guard, Navy, local responders search for missing diver off Monterey County coastThe US Coast Guard and other first responders continued a maritime search for a missing diver off of Fanshell Beach in Monterey County on Sunday, according to a Coast Guard spokesman.
Read more »
Houston traffic: Car fire ties up South 610 Loop center lanes near KirbyTRAFFIC ALERT: Look for alternate routes if you're travels take you eastbound on South I-610 Loop near Kirby. A car fire is blocking the middle lanes. More here:
Read more »