Cleanup of improperly stored used oil at the Anguilla Landfill on St. Croix has been underway since August 12, according to information released by the V.I. Waste Management Authority and reported Tuesday. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing the work with territorial agencies.
EPA inspections earlier this year found used oil stored directly on the ground and in containers outside approved containment areas at Anguilla and the Bovoni Landfill on St. Thomas. VIWMA is responsible for the removal, while the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and V.I. Fire and Emergency Medical Services are supporting the response.
Similar removal work at Bovoni is scheduled to begin in fall 2026. The agencies said proper removal and disposal are intended to reduce the risk that oil reaches nearby soil or water, particularly through rain-driven runoff.
The public information released so far does not state the volume of oil involved, provide sampling results or say that contamination beyond the storage areas has been confirmed. Those unknowns should remain separate from the verified finding that storage and containment were improper.
VIWMA and EPA should publish a joint cleanup dashboard showing oil volume, contractor, disposal destination, sampling results, work-zone protections, Bovoni's start date and completion milestones for both islands.
Source published September 8, 2026. Read the original reporting or release for the complete record.
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