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 sequence of residents and local leaders from barrios Guaraguabo, Mamey and Sonadora who said the quarry’s reactivation would harm public health, property and local roads. Samuel López of the Coalición Procasa Común Guaynabo Campo said the community faces “la reactivación de la cantera estrella” and recounted noise, truck traffic and the risk of renewed detonations. Marisol Ramos Vélez, a 63‑year resident, said the company previously “desistió de la solicitud de consulta de ubicación” but is now seeking permits to reopen and has begun what residents described as preparatory work on the site. Residents said the plant under discussion could produce up to 850 tons of asphalt per day.

Speakers described long-term physical and emotional effects from earlier quarry operations. Migdalia Cardona told commissioners she and her family “esperábamos la sirena, que nos avisaba en el arenero que estaba a punto de detonar,” and said houses still show structural damage from past blasts. Pastor José Martín Matos Hernández told the commission the dispute reaches beyond economic questions: “La vida, la salud y la dignidad humana están muy por encima de cualquier interés económico.”

Community advocates pressed the commission to hold an ocular visit (vista ocular) in Guaynabo Sur and to require presence by the mayor of Guaynabo and by permitting agencies. Representative Lizy Burgos and Representative Nelly Lebrón Roble said the commission should schedule the community site hearing as soon as possible; Navarro responded that additional public hearings will be scheduled and that the commission will summon Ortiz Brunet, the Office of Planning (Junta de Planificación) and the Oficina de Gerencia y Permisos to answer questions, with an “apericibimiento de desacato” if they fail to attend.

Residents gave details they said were missing from public notice and agency action: they said they received a company letter in late January and that some on‑site testing already occurred, including short detonations reported by neighbors. Speakers also cited census and local counts to estimate that hundreds to thousands of residents live in affected barrios; one presenter cited more than 250 families “cercas a los terrenos de la cantera estrella.” They urged legal remedies, including a court injunction under Article 14.1 of Law 161 (2009), and said community counsel is preparing options.

Commission members said the record will include future hearings in the community, that they will request sworn testimony and agency documents, and that they will prepare a renewed citation to compel the company’s appearance. Navarro told the room he expects the next scheduling to occur in June or July and that the commission will interleave residents’ testimony with agency responses in later sessions.

The hearing closed with commissioners and residents agreeing to gather documentary evidence and to continue the public process. The commission has not yet produced a final public report; the resolution requires a report of findings, conclusions and recommendations once the investigation is complete.