The long-debated Summer‘s End Marina project at Coral Bay, St. John, faces new scrutiny after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a letter on Aug. 15 expressing grave concerns about the environmental impact of the proposed development. The EPA’s Region 2 administrator emphasized the project’s potential violation of the Clean Water Act and its adverse effects on aquatic resources of national importance, specifically seagrass meadows in Coral Bay.
The Summer‘s End Group, LLC, has been pushing the marina project since 2014, proposing a development that includes 127 boat slips and extensive infrastructure. Despite multiple revisions over the years, the EPA remains unconvinced that the project can proceed without causing significant harm to the environment. The latest iteration of the project, which reduces the marina’s footprint slightly and eliminates the need for dredging, still falls short of meeting federal environmental guidelines, according to the EPA.
In its detailed assessment, the EPA highlighted the impact on seagrass meadows, which serve as critical habitats for threatened and endangered species. The letter pointed out that while some design changes, such as grated decking to reduce shading, have been made, they are insufficient to mitigate the expected loss of seagrass due to construction and ongoing marina operations. The EPA estimates that more than 2.4 acres of seagrass could be lost due to the project, which represents more than a third of the seagrass area that would be impacted by the marina.
Moreover, the EPA expressed concerns about the project’s compensatory mitigation plan, which includes mangrove plantings and coral transplants. The agency questioned the feasibility and ecological success of these efforts, particularly given the lack of concrete commitments and the scale of the proposed mitigation. The EPA’s letter also called for renewed public participation in the permit evaluation process, urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue a new public notice and consider holding public hearings.
The Summer‘s End project has been a contentious issue in the Virgin Islands, with strong opposition from local residents, environmental organizations and stakeholders who argue that the marina would devastate the delicate ecosystem of Coral Bay. The EPA’s continued recommendation to deny the Department of the Army permit casts further doubt on the future of the project.
This latest development follows years of community-led efforts to improve water quality and protect Coral Bay’s unique environmental resources. The bay has been designated a priority site by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and has seen significant investments to stabilize erosion-prone areas and reduce sediment runoff. The EPA’s stance underscores the ongoing struggle between development interests and environmental preservation in the Virgin Islands.
As the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviews the latest EPA recommendations, the fate of the Summer‘s End Marina remains uncertain. The project, which has been under review for a decade, now faces increasing pressure from federal regulators and the local community to reconsider its environmental impact and explore alternative solutions.
