ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY

Understanding and advocating for the unique value of St. Croix’s environment and interconnected ecosystems

Applying Science to Develop
Advocacy Positions

SEA does the hard scientific work to understand and advocate for the unique value of St. Croix’s environment and the interconnected ecosystems from the ridge line of our hills to the reefs in the surrounding waters. We apply this science and understanding in developing positions on environmental issues and advocacy.

In recent years, St. Croix Environmental Association has taken a stand to hold Limetree Bay Refinery accountable for pollution

Limetree Bay Refinery

Our Advocacy Program employs four broad strategies

1

Encouraging adoption of new laws and regulations to protect the environment.

2

Acting as a watchdog to assure uniform application, enforcement and compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

3

Public information and other campaigns to encourage environmentally responsible actions.

4

Advocating for the acquisition or designation of lands with special environmental value to preserve them for conservation or to otherwise assure environmentally responsible use.

2021 Advocacy Update

The S.E.A., the Center for Biological Diversity, and Sierra Club, in collaboration with Natural Resources Defense Council, Vermont Law School’s Environmental Justice Clinic and The Neville Law Firm LLC, filed a legal appeal on February 3, 2021 against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenging the high pollution levels allowed for the Limetree Bay refinery operations and requesting better considerations for environmental justice on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

We want EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board to review Limetree Bay’s Plantwide Applicability Limit (PAL) permit.

We’ve created a page full of resources, articles, actions, and a petition for you to sign pertaining to the Limetree Bay Refinery accountability and St. Croix pollution issues.

S.E.A. Advocacy History

Concern about a development proposed for an inappropriate location gave birth to SEA in 1986. While we recognize that appropriate economic development on St. Croix is important, we believe that sustainable development that protects the environment is also vital to the health and prosperity of future generations. Our advocacy efforts are aimed at assuring a responsible and sustainable balance between these goals.

Visit Our LimeTree Bay Accountability Resources