Camuy sues DNER over halted coastal rehab project

The Municipality of Camuy has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the island government after the agency ordered the suspension of improvement work at the Peñón Brusi seaside recreational area. (Facebook via Gaby Hernández)

By THE STAR STAFF

The Municipality of Camuy has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) and the Puerto Rico government after the agency ordered the suspension of improvement work at the Peñón Brusi seaside recreational area, Mayor Gabriel Hernández Rodríguez announced on Tuesday.

“I never imagined I would have to sue my own Government to defend the interests of my town,” Hernández Rodríguez said in a written statement. “Before going to court, I exhausted every communication channel.”

The complaint, filed Monday in the Camuy section of the island Court of First Instance, seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction as well as a declaratory judgment to nullify the DNER’s June 24 stop‑work order.

According to the municipality, the project is authorized under an Incidental Operational Single Permit issued by the Office of Permit Management on June 2, valid through Feb. 6, 2031.

The first phase of the project includes sidewalk rehabilitation, curb reconstruction, pavement improvements, upgrades to the stormwater system and replacement of deteriorated fill material. The work represents a $550,000 investment funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The DNER’s order cites alleged violations involving discharge points, stormwater piping, potential requirements for authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and a dispute over the maritime terrestrial zone, according to the lawsuit.

The municipality argues that final discharge components would not be built until the Army Corps determines whether additional federal authorization is necessary.

“Municipalities deserve respect,” the mayor said. “It is unacceptable for a public‑interest project, duly authorized and intended to improve the quality of life of Camuy residents, to be halted without allowing the municipality to be heard.”

Hernández Rodríguez warned that the suspension is already impacting businesses in the Peñón Brusi coastal area, including restaurants, kiosks, tourism operators, suppliers and other establishments that rely on summer visitor traffic.

“This is not just about a construction project; it is about the livelihood of dozens of small and midsize businesses that depend on tourism and the economic activity generated in this zone,” he added.

The mayor also cautioned that if the halt continues, the municipality may cancel the Camuy Summer Fest 2026, an event he said generates more than $500,000 in economic activity.

“Canceling Camuy Summer Fest 2026 would be a severe blow to our economy,” Hernández Rodríguez said. “Hundreds of thousands of dollars would stop circulating among our small and midsize merchants.”

The lawsuit asks the court to prohibit the DNER from interfering with the project’s execution while the permit remains valid and unless it is suspended or revoked according to law.

Hernández Rodríguez emphasized that the legal action is not a political confrontation but rather a mechanism to protect the rights of the municipality and its residents.