Puerto Rico House commission orders probe after residents oppose reactivation of Cantera Estrella

Representative Jorge Navarro, president of the Puerto Rico House Commission Metropolitana, on May 28 presented Resolution 1-23 and said the commission will press for a formal investigation into permitting for plans to reactivate Cantera Estrella and to locate an asphalt batching plant nearby.

The resolution, introduced to the commission as “resolución 1 23,” directs the commission to investigate “el proceso de autorización de permiso de consulta y ubicación, procedimientos adjudicativos” at the Oficina de Gerencia y Permisos and related agencies for the proposed asphalt plant and for controlled blasts at the quarry, the transcript shows. Navarro told the hearing that the company’s representative, Carlos Ortiz Brunet, declined to appear and that the commission will prepare a subpoena for a new date in June or July and may seek judicial enforcement if the company does not comply: “La comisión de la región metropolitana no hizo una invitación a la empresa Ortibrunet. Se hizo una citación,” he said.

The hearing drew a…