The January 2015 Army Corps Public Notice

After reviewing the second permit application submitted by Summers End and deeming it complete, the Army Corps project manager at the time – Mr. Johann Sasso – prepared a draft Public Notice and circulated it for approval with the Applicant and other Army Corps staff.    That first Public Notice was officially posted on January 7, 2015.  It provided an overview of the project, based solely on the Applicant’s submissions (standard operating procedure).  It provided some graphic components, such as the site overview and basic schematics.  The public was invited to provide comments during a 30-day period.

Unprecedented Public Opposition Submitted to Army Corps The public  response to the January 2015 Public Notice was incredible.  Responses were so extensive that the Corps ultimately extended the comment period for an additional 30 days.  The facts and figures of the public reaction tell the story of how strongly people were opposed to the concept of a mega yacht marina taking over the waters of Coral Bay.  By the end of the comment period the Corps had received:

  1. Letters from over 13,000 individuals all opposed to the marina on a wide variety of grounds, including environmental, economic, social, navigational, historic, and aesthetic impacts.
  2. A petition signed by over 5,000 individuals all opposed to the Summers End Group marina.
  3. Well over a thousand individual requests for a public hearing on the permit application.
  4. A file of press clippings covering the past six months, including feature articles, op-eds and letters to the editor, all voicing public opposition to the project.
  5. Letters of opposition from a wide range of local, regional and national organizations, including:
    • St John Historical Society
    • Island Green Living Association
    • Friends of the Virgin Island National Park
    • Virgin Islands Conservation Society
    • Coral Bay Community Council
    • St John Yacht Club
    • Coral Bay Yacht Club
    • Virgin Islands League of Woman Voters
    • National Parks Traveler
    • National Parks Conservation Association
    • Mission Blue
    • Center for Biological Diversity
    • Island Resources Foundation

March 3, 2015:  Coral Bay Community Council Responds With Extensive Documentation and Expert Reports

Late in 2014 the Coral Bay Community Council (“CBCC”) was contacted by Attorney Robb Fox, from the nationally recognized environmental law firm of Manko, Gold, Katcher and Fox.  Attorney Fox generously offered to assist the CBCC in putting together an appropriate response to the Army Corps of Engineers, on an tntirely pro bono basis.  In addition to Manko, Gold, we were contacted by the law firm of Sive, Paget and Riesel who also offered their services, pro bono, on environmental issues.  These two law firms are in the top tier of national environmental law practices. With the invaluable assistance of Robb Fox, Jonathan Rinde, Mark Chertok and Maggie MacDonald, the CBCC put together a comprehensive response to the Public Notice for the Summers End Group marina.  It was a monumental effort, culminating in the delivery of two volumes of comprehensive commentary delivered to the Army Corps in early February 2015.  The CBCC response included:

      • A 20 page cover letter outlining the key legal and policy reasons the permit should be denied.
      • Expert reports from five highly acclaimed experts covering Economics, Fish Habitat, Endangered Species, Water Quality, and Navigation.
      • Detailed comments submitted by local experts, including the CBCC itself.
      • Full scale renderings of the proposed project, in correct context.