House Western Commission opens probe after biomedical waste found at mouth of Río Grande de Añasco

Representative Odalis González González, president of the House of Representatives' Western Region Commission, opened a public hearing March 31, 2025, to investigate recurring findings of biomedical waste at the mouth of the Río Grande de Af1asco and to press responsible agencies and contractors for answers.

The commission said it will use its investigatory powers under the constitution and the political code to summon the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Environmental Quality Board, and it set a short timetable for documents and follow-up inspections. Elisa Muf1oz Lf3pez, legislative affairs advisor to the Puerto Rico Department of Health, told the commission the department supports an investigation but does not have jurisdiction over the generation, transport or final disposal of regulated biomedical waste.

The resolution the commission cited, Cámara 168, orders an urgent investigation into the repeated discovery of biomedical waste at the mouth of the Río Grande de Af1asco, directs oversight of generators and handlers of those wastes, asks for an evaluation of existing laws and regulations, and calls for referral of findings and possible civil or criminal responsibility to the appropriate agencies. Representative González read that resolution into the record at the start of the hearing.

Muf1oz said the Department of Health's Division of Environmental Health is responsible for public-health-related protocols (water potability, food safety, vector control, radiological safety and other functions) and for licensure and operational inspection of health facilities. But she told the commission the statutory authority for establishing and enforcing a regulated biomedical-waste program rests with the Environmental Quality Board within the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, citing the transcript's reference to Ley 180 del 2008, "la ley para el manejo de desperdicios biome9dicos regulados," and the agency's implementing regulations.

"No contamos con jurisdicción para supervisar y fiscalizar la generación, manejo, transporte y disposición de residuos biome9dicos," Muf1oz said, adding that the Department of Health requires health facilities it licenses to maintain contracts with authorized biomedical-waste handlers and that inspectors check for those contracts during facility visits. She also said the department has no record of current violations that would justify direct enforcement in Af1asco, and recommended the commission invite the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Environmental Quality Board to present their technical evidence.

Members of the commission pressed for immediate steps, including an ocular visit, laboratory testing and a list of licensed biomedical-waste haulers and generators. Representative Lilibet Rosas said the commission should compel the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources to appear: "se le exija la comparecencia" so the legislature can exercise its investigatory power. Representative Joel Frankie and others urged rapid water sampling and laboratory analysis to determine whether the materials found in the river and on beaches contain human biological material or other sources.

Representatives repeatedly requested a short turnaround for records. The Department of Health was given five business days to provide: applicable departmental regulations and the date they were last revised; documentation on laboratory and licensing oversight related to laboratories and clinical facilities; and a list of companies contracted to collect and dispose of regulated biomedical waste, as the commission sought potential points of failure in collection and tracking.

Representative Emilio Carlo moved that the commission summon the Environmental Quality Board, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and private companies holding contracts for handling, transport and disposal of biomedical waste; the motion also asked that other relevant agencies be included in future citations. The motion found broad support in the hearing, though no roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript. Representative González said the commission would use its "facultades indelegables" to cite the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources if necessary.

Members also requested that the Department of Health bring district-office personnel and technical staff to the ocular visit scheduled for April 4 so inspectors can perform on-site observations alongside legislators. Representative Gabriel Rodredguez Aguilf3 said the commission needed evidence custody information: where the recently found items are being stored, who is the custodian and whether the items retain identifying codes that would allow tracing to specific facilities or shipments.

The Department of Health's witness reiterated the department's willingness to collaborate and to provide requested materials despite limiting its enforcement role. The hearing record shows the commission will pursue citations and an ocular inspection and will request technical evidence and historical records from the Environmental Quality Board and the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.

Next steps recorded at the hearing: the commission set an ocular visit for April 4, gave the Department of Health five business days to provide the requested documentation, and directed staff to issue citations summoning the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the Environmental Quality Board and private biomedical-waste contractors. The transcript does not record a formal vote on those directions; the record shows consensus among participating representatives to pursue the inquiries and to compel agency appearances.