The Regional Government submitted today the latest report drafted by LNEC - National Civil Engineering Laboratory concerning the second half of 2018 to the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores and to Praia da Vitória City Council. The document analyses and monitors the rehabilitation works to improve the environmental situation in Praia da Vitória, confirming the "good water quality" of that municipality.
 
The results now published are the result of the monitoring works LNEC on the decontamination procedures that have been undertaken by the United States of America, following the Regional Government's demand, among others, within the Portugal-United States Permanent Bilateral Commission.
 
The LNEC report focuses on issues regarding the decontamination of the surrounding areas at the Gate of Arms (Site 3001) and South Tank Farm (Site 5001). It was drafted following the analysis of 109 chemical parameters.
 
The document points out the overall decrease in hydrocarbon concentrations in sites identified as contaminated, notwithstanding the presence of some compounds in suspended aquifers, namely Toluene and PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) concentrations.
 
LNEC recommends that, among other measures, the USA should outline for site 3001 "a series of actions to reduce the concentration of hydrocarbons dissolved in water" and, for site 5001, it should "reassess the oscillations verified and the most appropriate procedures to be implemented in the rehabilitation of the site."
 
The results also point out to the existence of Vanadium in groundwater of Terceira, whose presence is associated with natural deep water circulation on the island's volcanic rocks.
 
Regarding water quality, the report confirms the "good water quality" of the municipality, based on the Water Quality Control Plan (PCQA) and the Special Monitoring Plan (PME); the latter is under the responsibility of Praia da Vitória City Council. The findings are supported by a number of point and passive sampling campaigns carried out in the boreholes used to supply the population. The concentrations of the 85 hydrocarbons analysed were lower than the quantification limits, thus reinforcing the water quality indicators for human consumption in the municipality of Praia da Vitória.
 
With this regular monitoring procedure and the submission of biannual reports to the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores complies with Legislative Resolutions no.11/2011/A of June 15 and no.20/2015/A of June 12, reinforcing the transparency of the monitoring process that has been carried out.
 
The most recent report is also available at the address http://rea.azores.gov.pt/asa-terceira.aspx, where all interested parties may consult all the documentation produced by the self-government bodies of the Region since 2010.