PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT: Bordeaux Irrigation Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment
The public meeting will be about the commencement of work for a Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment, which will assist in the Federal decision-making process concerning the potential to improve the existing water supply in the Bordeaux region of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Registration
No registration required.
Open to the public.
PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bordeaux Irrigation Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture (VIDA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), are sponsoring a public meeting with the general public related to the commencement of work for a Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA). The plan and environmental assessment will assist in the Federal decision-making process concerning the potential to improve the existing water supply in the Bordeaux region of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), in an effort to support agricultural demand. The meetings will be held in person in St. Thomas, on August 15, 2024, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 US Code (USC) §4321 et seq.); the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508); 7 CFR Part 1970 (Environmental Policy and Procedures) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulation contained in 36 CFR part 800.
The watershed project to be discussed is focused on the agricultural region of Bordeaux, located on the west side of the island of St. Thomas in the USVI. This project is necessary to provide improved water infrastructure for the farmers of Bordeaux and ensure the maintenance and success of the agricultural system within the Bordeaux region, which sustains the physical and economic health of the St. Thomas population. This project will focus on identifying water needs in the area, assessing the needs to repair existing ponds, providing better access roads, and defining alternatives to provide a water storage and distribution system for agricultural areas.
Federal funding has been received to assist in developing the plans and environmental assessment, but it has not yet been secured for the design or construction of these projects.
More information can be found on the www.nrcs.usda.gov/news.
PUBLIC MEETING TIME AND PLACE:
Tuesday, October 15, at 6:00pm
University of the Virgin Islands
Orville E. Kean - St. Thomas Campus - ACC Room #2 John Brewers Bay,
St. Thomas, USVI 00802-9990
*An Agency meeting to present the same information will be held in the morning on October 15 – invitations will be sent to relevant agencies, and partners – if you are interests in attending the Agency meeting, please contact NRCS to the information included below.
NRCS provides reasonable accommodations to enable all persons with disabilities to participate in agency programs and activities. If you need an accommodation to participate in this activity or for further information about the meeting, please contact:
Ms. Lisbeth San Miguel-Rivera, PhD
State Environmental Compliance Specialist
Phone: 939-208-0931
Lisbeth.SanMiguel-Rivera@usda.gov
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.