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Lawmakers press APP over vegetation plan, potential environmental and health impacts of FEMA-backed clearance
Summary
Representatives raised alarm at APP testimony about vegetation contracts and the FEMA-backed vegetation reset, citing expert warnings about aggressive clearing and proposed herbicide use; APP said environmental reviews are managed through federal processes and FEMA dockets.
SAN JUAN — During the June 20 committee hearing on the UMA/Luma contract, several representatives focused on vegetation management as a distinct public-policy and environmental risk tied to federal reconstruction funds.
Representative Mariana Nogales Molinelli cited expert analysis alleging that the vegetation-management plan proposed for parts of the island could lead to large-scale clearing and would include herbicide use. "...ese plan de manejo de vegetacin que propone el UMA... utilizar glifosato como otras sustancias..." she said, summarizing concerns raised by Dr. Ariel Lugo and others about long-term ecological and public-health effects.
Fermn Fontanes Gmez of the Autoridad para las Alianzas Publico-Privadas said APPs role is to review and approve contracts; environmental reviews and federal compliance for FEMA-funded projects occur in FEMA and Negociado/Federal dockets. He noted that APP has approved approximately $500 million in vegetation-related contracts and that a larger FEMA-funded "vegetation reset" was discussed in federal filings in the docket (figures cited in testimony pointed to $1.2 billion in federal planning for broader work).
Members asked whether APP evaluates the public-health impacts, water-quality consequences and long-term ecological costs of proposed methods. APPs response: APP evaluates contracts, procurement and legal compliance, while environmental-impact analyses tied to federal funds are handled through federal review processes and the Negociados technical reviews for applicable standards.
The committee asked APP to provide copies of the vegetation plans, the environmental reviews submitted to FEMA, and any internal analyses APP has of potential health and ecological effects. Lawmakers signaled they intend to follow up with the Negociado and federal agencies for fuller technical review.
The exchange highlighted a division of duties: APP as contract administrator (legal/compliance review) and federal agencies/Negociado handling environmental and technical approvals; lawmakers urged clearer public disclosure and closer review given possible long-term impacts.
Next steps: APP agreed to provide the committee with public filings and related procurement documents; the committee will invite the Negociado, federal representatives or technical witnesses to explain environmental reviews.
