The Limetree Bay Facility on the South Shore of St. Croix. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT FOR VI CONSORTIUM
Governor Bryan on Tuesday spoke to concerns some members of the community have expressed relative to Limetree Bay Refining and the May 12 incident that sent plumes of smoke mixed with oil droplets billowing west of St. Croix.
“The refinery has been cleaning affected rooftops, cisterns and properties for those impacted," Mr. Bryan said Tuesday during the administration's weekly press briefing. "In some instances, they have agreed to provide compensation to the property owner in lieu of the actual cleaning. In all instances, they require the property owner to sign a release and settlement agreement. This agreement should release the refinery of further claims of bodily injury and or property damage arising from the incident on May 12th.”
The territory's leader said the agreement and the terms in it were negotiated between the refinery and the law firms involved in a civil action against the refinery related to the May 12 flare. The agreements should not extend a blanket release for any incidents prior to or in the future if the refinery were to reopen.
"I suggest before you sign anything, have somebody legal at least look at it," the governor urged. "We've looked at it and I'm not an attorney to give you sound advice, but you should contact some kind of attorney to review that to see if you may be affected any further by that. I'm neither purporting any suits or anything against any company; all I'm saying is know your rights and execute them."
Residents who are presented with a release to sign that appears to hold the refinery harmless beyond May 12 should contact St. Croix Administrator Sammuel Sanes at 340-773-1404, Gov't House said.
“We have assurances from Limetree that this is not their intention," the governor said. "The refinery has vowed to continue their efforts to address community concerns even as their operations are currently idled."
