Hazardous Substance Research Centers/South & Southwest

Site description

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) contacted TOSC about assisting a community in St. Thomas with the Bovoni Landfill, a 34-acre site on the southeast peninsula of St. Thomas. The landfill accepted municipal, industrial, and medical wastes as well as construction and demolition debris. An underground fire is burning at the landfill, emitting combustion products to the air, and occasionally breaking the surface and covering the area in thick, black smoke. In 1996, a community group concerned about exposures to harmful fumes from the fires, petitioned ATSDR to evaluate the public health impact of the Bovoni Landfill. ATSDR conducted a Public Health Assessment of the landfill over several months in 1996 and 1997.

Summary of assistance (through June, 2004)

ATSDR has expressed interest in having TOSC provide health education training and community organizing assistance to the community, and has visited the Island and provided TOSC information to the community. TOSC is working with ATSDR to meet with the community and provide a needs assessment.