USACE creates new Task Force to speed reconstruction projects in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

San Juan, Puerto Rico- Jenniffer González Colón, Puerto Rico's sole representative in Congress, introduced the new task force under the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) that aims to speed up construction of the ongoing civilian works on the Island.

These works are the product of more than $3 billions in federal funds, the largest sum of allocations USACE has received in its history for projects on the island, and which were supported by the Congresswoman, most of them under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.

The USACE Antilles Area Office, which operates in Puerto Rico, reports to the Jacksonville District, which is under the South Atlantic Division. This Office will transform into the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico Task Force (TF VIPR), lead by Engineer Jacqueline Keizer pending the appointment of a full-time colonel who will report directly to the Atlantic Division South, led by the commander, Brigadier General Daniel Hibner. Both federal officials accompanied the Congresswoman at the press conference.

"The main objective of the Corps of Engineers is to create a solid infrastructure and provide solutions to possible natural disasters so that we have a safe Puerto Rico, where our life and property are not threatened by nature's unpredictability. That is the reason why I have focused part of my efforts in Congress to ensure the continuation of projects that had been stayed for decades due to lack of adequate funding. Now that we have secured historic locations, USACE is able to complete these projects. I thank all the staff of the Jacksonville District for their commitment and the work that they have carried out on the Island. I welcome this Task Force and I vow to continue to work closely with the Task Force so that our people can be safe in the face of natural disasters", said the Congresswoman, who is a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee which has jurisdiction over the agency.

"I recognize the strategic importance of this multi-billion program and as the South Atlantic Division Commander I am committed to the success of Task Force VIPR and this program", said Brigadier General Daniel Hibner. "This effort has the full support of LT. Gen Spellmon as the Chief of Engineers and Mr. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works".

"I am excited that together we have the opportunity to take this great program and make it extraordinary." Jackie Keiser , Deputy Project Management, USACE TF VIPR, said "One team, one mission for Puerto Rico. Task Force VIPR will have one focus and that is all current and future Civil Works projects in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands".

Since 2017, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - South Atlantic Division's portfolio of programs has increased enormously in terms of number of projects and overall scheduled obligations each fiscal year. These increases resulted from natural disasters as well as requirements growth across Civil Works (CW), Military Construction (MILCON), Interagency & International Support (IIS) and Environmental programs.

Congress passed multiple supplemental funding bills (BBA 18, DRSAA and BIL) between 2018 and 2022 providing authorities and appropriations across USACE and particularly for SAD. The massive and rapid growth across the SAD AOR requires additional bandwidth for leadership, resources, and workload management to execute the program effectively and efficiently.

In February 2023, an SAD command directed review of regional workload revealed significant workloads the Jacksonville District Areas of Responsibility (AOR), particularly in Puerto Rico (PR) Civil Works. The review recommended the development of a Task Force to provide oversight of programs and projects in Puerto Rico (PR) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

On 14 April 2023 the Chief of Engineers approved South Atlantic Division's (SAD) proposal to stand up Task Force Virgin Islands Puerto Rico (VIPR).

TF VIPR will carry out all the civil works that USACE carries out and will carry out on the island. Other districts could collaborate with the works in Puerto Rico, such as Jacksonville District which will continue to be in charge of cleaning up Culebra under the program of sites previously used by the Department of Defense (FUDS) and the completion of studies on coastal erosion.

The VIPR TF will carry out works in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, including the following work planned for Puerto Rico:

1. San Juan - Flood Risk Management Project río Puerto Nuevo - $1.5 billions
2. San Juan- Improvements to San Juan Harbor- $45.5 millions
3. San Juan- Ecosystem Restoration Project-Caño Martín Peña-$163.2 millions
4. San Juan- Army Reserve Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP) Puerto Nuevo $9.6 millions
5. San Juan -construction of FDA facility $10 millions.
6. Dorado, Toa Baja y Toa Alta- Flood Risk Management Project Río de La Plata- - $485.2 millions.
7. Arecibo - Flood Risk Management Project Río Grande de Arecibo- $174.1 millions.
8. Gurabo y Caguas -Río Grande de Loíza - FY24 Expressed Capability
9. Aguada y Aguadilla - Flood Risk Management Project Río Culebrinas -$26.4 millions.
10. Ciales- Flood Risk Management Project Río Grande de Manatí - $14.8 millions.
11. Guayanilla- Flood Risk Management Project Río Guayanilla -$60.6 millions
12. Aibonito- Río Aibonito- $50,000 for studies
13. Santa Isabel-Rio Descalabrado- pending.
14. Guaynabo - 4 proyectos de reconstrucción en el Fuerte Buchanan-$63 millions
15. Salinas- Army Reserve National Guard Joint Training Center -$291 millions
16. Salinas- Río Nigua - $47.8 millions
17. Mayagüez -Río Guanajibo- $107.1 millions.
18. Quebradillas- reconstruction of the Guajataca Dam- pending.

Since 2017 USACE has completed the following projects:

1. Fort Buchanan Access Control Point - $10,274,721.12
2. Fort Buchanan Apparatus Building- $2,191,640.38
3. Fort Buchanan Physical Fitness Annex - $1,717,442.38
4. Aguadilla Army Reserve Center- $19,674,589.07
5. Rio Puerto Nuevo Cont 2D Walls-$24,059,396.00
6. East Levee Repair (Barceloneta)-$3,219,090.99
7. Guajataca Dam Stage 2 Risk Reduction Measure- $5,815,005.41
8. Guajataca Dam Sluice Gate Stem Replacement- $787,504.50
9. Guajatca Dam Spillway Channel Reinforcement-$17,804,766.14
10. Rio Yauco Temporary Levee Repair- $2,283,888.39
11. Guajatca Dam Hydraulic System Replacement- $1,106,467.55
12. Salud Creek Streambank Protection- $1,059,800.90
13. Loiza Shoreline Protection- $3,586,866.55
14. Arecibo Harbor & Mayaguez Harbor O&M- $6,548,412.00
15. Rio Anton Ruiz Restoration- $3,782,216.29

In addition to all these works, USACE has directed emergency missions such as power generation work, with the distribution of generators after each major disaster such as hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Fiona.

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