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Puerto Rico Dredging Project
FILE - A bird flies over the San Juan Bay Estuary in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Oct. 26, 2013. A $62 million project to dredge Puerto Rico's biggest and most important seaport began Wednesday, April 3, 2024 amid fierce opposition from environmentalists. Crews will remove nearly 3 million cubic yards of marine floor to open the San Juan Bay to larger vessels including tankers that will serve a new liquid natural gas terminal on Puerto Rico's north coast. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo, File)

Dredging of Puerto Rico's biggest port begins despite warnings it may harm turtles and corals

A $62 million project to dredge Puerto Rico’s biggest and most important seaport has started amid fierce opposition from environmentalists and a pending lawsuit

By DÁNICA COTO
Published - Apr 03, 2024, 09:21 PM ET
Last Updated - Apr 03, 2024, 09:21 PM EDT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A $62 million project to dredge Puerto Rico’s biggest and most important seaport began Wednesday amid fierce opposition from environmentalists and a pending lawsuit.

Crews with California-based Curtin Maritime will remove nearly 3 million cubic yards (76 million cubic feet) of marine floor to open the San Juan Bay to larger vessels including tankers that will serve a new liquid natural gas terminal on Puerto Rico’s north coast.

The dredged material will be deposited into the Atlantic Ocean 2 nautical miles (4 kilometers) north of the U.S. territory in a move approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, officials said.

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said the project overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to give a $400 million boost to the local economy, adding that the dredging will be completed by October.

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