The Northeastern Ecological Corridor (NEC), comprising the San Miguel I and II, Las Paulinas and El Convento properties, in the municipalities of Luquillo and Fajardo, is one of Puerto Rico's last great unprotected areas and home to over 25 endangered, threatened, and endemic species. This area was proposed as a nature reserve by the PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources in 1992, but was rezoned for tourist-residential development in 1996.

The PR Tourism Company and the PR Planning Board are proposing the development of the San Miguel-Four Seasons Resort and the Dos Mares-J.W. Marriott Resort within the NEC. These two projects will have an adverse significant impact on the unique natural and recreational resources found in the NEC. A deficit of over 2,000,000 gallons of water will result from their development even after the construction of the Northeastern Regional Aqueduct, worsening the present situation for many local communities in the region that lack potable water. The development of these two projects is contrary to Federal and Commonwealth environmental policies, and thus to the public interest, since it would undermine current and past conservation efforts. Of special concern is the fact that the proposed projects would be significantly financed by public funds and would be established mostly on public lands.

I respectfully urge that a legislative investigation be conducted to evaluate the effects that the San Miguel-Four Seasons Resort and the Dos Mares-J.W. Marriott Resort will have on the northeastern region of PR. I also urge you to support the designation of the NEC as a nature reserve, as originally proposed by the Commonwealth.

The Undersigned.