Spotlight on Caneel Bay Resort cleanup work

The National Park Service (NPS) has awarded a contract for the second phase of environmental cleanup work at the Caneel Bay Resort (Site), the Virgin Islands National Park said.

The second phase of work includes removal of contaminated soil and sediment from the maintenance area and associated drainage channel (Area 2).

During this phase of work, NPS is set to remove approximately 288 bank cubic yards (BCY) of contaminated soil and 40 loose cubic yards of contaminated sediment.

The term “bank cubic yards” refers to the volume of soil as it naturally exists in the ground in an undisturbed state, whereas “loose cubic yards” refers to the volume of material after it has been excavated.

“During the second phase of work, Honeymoon Beach and Caneel Beach will remain open to visitors. Portions of existing parking lots may be closed off to serve as staging areas for sealed contained material and equipment, and visitors may notice increased equipment noise,” said the Park.

On-site work is anticipated to begin in 2025.

This second phase of removal work is funded in part by the Department of the Interior’s Central Hazardous Materials Fund (CHF), with additional funds leveraged from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).