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Rincón mayor urges opening former nuclear plant as museum, says DOE conducted periodic cleanups
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Summary
Mayor Carlos D. López Bonilla described the former nuclear facility near Rincón as historically significant, said the U.S. Department of Energy performed periodic inspections and remediation, and urged that the site—now a museum—be opened to the public; he also said no formal studies have shown higher local cancer rates.
RINCÓN, Puerto Rico — Carlos D. López Bonilla, who identifies himself in the interview as the mayor of Rincón, said the former nuclear research facility commonly referred to in the transcript as “bonos” has been converted into a museum and that he would like to see it opened to visitors for educational tours. “Y y nos gustaría que algún día esa planta Borhos, digo, hoy convertida en un museo, se le pueda abrir al público,” he said.
López Bonilla described the site’s original use as a pioneering nuclear-energy research plant in Latin America, saying it was used to train personnel and to produce electricity in an experimental model. He recounted that older residents who worked at the facility remember its construction and operations positively and that the town accepts the site as part of its history.
The mayor said the U.S. Department of Energy (referred to in the interview as “el departamento de energía de Estados Unidos”) visited Rincón repeatedly for work and inspections. He described remediation steps in basements and regular cleanups carried out over the years, adding that such visits occurred periodically but that there has been no contact in about three years. “Ellos vinieron, hicieron las limpiezas de rigor y año tras año han pasado,” he said.
On community health concerns, López Bonilla told the interviewer that while residents have discussed cancer counts, “nunca se pudo establecer algo… no tenemos evidencia de nada.” He said no formal study was presented to establish a higher incidence of cancer tied to the site.
Besides the plant, the mayor highlighted Rincón’s cultural and tourism profile: a 1968 world surfing championship drew international visitors, the municipality opened a Galería del Surfing to preserve local history, and officials plan a promenade and bike path linking the town to the former plant to encourage walking and cycling access.
The interview includes repeated variants of the facility name in the transcript (e.g., "bonos," "Borus," "Boon," "Booth"). The mayor discussed photographs and archival film of the plant’s construction that show public figures of the era, including Manuel García and Governor Luis Muñoz Marín.
No formal decisions or municipal actions to open the museum were announced in the interview. López Bonilla framed the site as an educational opportunity and emphasized the community’s acceptance and the lack of presented epidemiological evidence connecting the facility to local disease patterns. The conversation ended without a stated timeline for opening the museum to the public.
