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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Over Half a Million Dollars in Federal Funding for
Environmental and Natural Resources Protection in Puerto Rico

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced today that the Island will receive more than half a million dollars in federal funds for the protection of coral reefs and the Martín Peña Canal.

The federal funds have been awarded to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico (DNER) and the organization ENLACE Caño Martín Peña.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded DNER a $423,362 grant for conservation and management of coral reefs located in the waters surrounding Puerto Rico. With this funding, DNER will target conservation work for the most threatened coral reefs, implement a general management initiative for all coral reefs around the Island, and develop a response plan designed to mitigate immediate coral bleaching and associated diseases. Additionally, with the federal funds, DNER can better determine areas of high priority and design technology to control pollution in the septic tank basin of Fajardo.

DNER will also develop a specific strategic plan for the management of reefs off the East coast of Puerto Rico, assess artificial reefs, and monitor coral communities in natural reserves around the Island.

“This federal grant helps us in our work to protect our coral reefs, and comes at a critical time since we have lost about 50 percent of our reefs due to a combination of environmental stressors. Since I arrived in Congress I have consistently advocated for the protection of these irreplaceable wonders of nature,” said Pierluisi.

In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the organization ENLACE Caño Martín Peña about $60,000, the maximum amount of funds available, to support their efforts to improve water quality and community access to safe, reliable water.

“The efforts from all organizations in Puerto Rico working together to protect our Island’s environment are bringing about positive results. I commend ENLACE for their outstanding work. I hope these federal grants will serve to continue educating the public about the pollution of the canal, and further help the community work toward its restoration. I have worked with ENLACE, and they know they can count on my continued support in this cause,” said Pierluisi.
 
The EPA awarded environmental grants totaling $2.7 million to 46 different organizations located in 32 states and Puerto Rico. Each organization was awarded a grant ranging between a low of $30,000 and a high of $60,000. The projects selected for the funding will promote the restoration of urban waters through community engagement and outreach, water quality monitoring and studies, and environmental education and training.

The ENLACE project is focused on restoring the Martín Peña Canal to its proper environmental state and improving the quality of life and environmental conditions for the eight communities residing along the canal. The organization has developed partnerships between these communities and the public and private sectors. ENLACE has established and implemented a comprehensive land use plan for the economic redevelopment of the area, which will improve the overall social, economic and environmental conditions in the affected communities.

The Martín Peña Canal is a major natural channel for the San Juan Metropolitan Area, which provides a vital link between the San Juan Bay national estuary and the Los Corozos and San Jose Lagoons.