tinitcd ~rates ~cnatc WASHINGTON, DC 20510 March 14, 2018 Administrator Brock Long Federal Emergency Management Agency 500 C Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20472 Lieutenant General Todd T. Semonite U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 441 G Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20314 Dear Administrator Long and General Semonite, We are writing today to request an update on federal efforts to restore the electric grid in Puerto Rico, five and a half months after Hurricane Maria devastated the territory. We hope to gain a better understanding of the status of and challenges to restoration efforts and to obtain information about the reliability of the service that has been restored. According to official figures, the joint efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Anny Corps), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREP A), and affiliated contractors have restored power to over 1.3 million customers, 1 representing around 92% of PREPA customers.2 The Army Corps, which was "given a mission to restore power on Puerto Rico, writ large ...full stop,"3 has been described as "the most important actor" in these power restoration efforts. Working with PREPA, the Army Corps has focused on installing emergency, temporary generators across the island; improving the island's power generation capacity; restoring the island's electric transmission system; and rebuilding the island 's power distribution system.4 The federal and territory agencies hope to restore electricity to up to 95% of customers by March 31. 5 1 Frances Robles, "Contractors Are Leaving Puerto Rico, Where Many Still Lack Power," New York Times (February 26, 2018) (on line at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/us/puerto-rico-power-contractor.html); tweet by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters (March 12, 20 18) (Online at https://twitter.com/ USACEHQ/status/973 2423203 91897089). 2 See www.status.pr. 3 Peter Behr, Rod Kuckro, and David Ferris, "Trump admin takes over Puerto Rico grid recovery," E&E News (September 29, 2017) (on line at https://www.eenews.net/stories/ 1060062123). 4 Carlos L. Yordan, " U.S. Anny Corps of Engineers' Power Restoration Strategy for Puerto Rico Post-Maria," Center for Puerto Rican Studies (February 20, 2018) (on line at https://centropr.hunter.cuny.edu/centrovoices/current-affairs/us-army-coms-engineers%E2%80%99-powerrestoration-strategy-puerto-rico-post). 5 Tweet by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters (February 27, 2018) (online at https://twitter.com/USACEHQ/status/968545762228555777). I--lowever, over 130,000 custo1ners re1nain without po\ver, 6 and the island continues to experience significant electricity-related challenges. Federal and local responders have struggled to provide relief to citizens living in the motn1tai11ous, more sparely-populated regions of central Puerto Rico, where transporting supplies and vehicles is more difficult than in coastal towns. 7 Witl1out power, hard-to-reach areas 11ave struggled to access clean water and preserve food. leading some areas and schools to disco11nect fro1n the PREPA grid entirely. 8 In spite of the challenges still f3cing po\ver restoratio11 efforts, over 2,000 workers fron1 federal contractors-including employees ffom two large Army Corps contractors-ha\1 e left Puerto Rico in recent weeks, causing "indignation" an1ongst Puerto Rican towns that still lack 9 po\ver. Those involved in power restoration efforts and in local government l1ave reportedly been ''disappointed" by the contractors' work, whicl1 tl1ey feel l1as been "slo\v." 10 The Army Corps has described its workforce reduction as "a natural progression of any en1ergency response" and argues tl1at "the delivery of materials (poles, wire, and transfonners)," ratl1er than "the number of \Vorkers," l1as bee11 "the primary limiting factor to ... progress." 11 It acknov. ledges, hov.'ever, that ·'achieving 95% [power] restoration in areas witl1 challenging terrain like Arecibo and Caguas, will take until mid-April at1d late-May, respectivel)'." 12 1 Furtl1ermore, news reports Slrggest that PREPA, facing significant financial challenges, 13 continues to struggle to minimize and prevent power outages-even iI1 areas more readily accessible by recovery \Vorkers. Nearly half of Puerto Rico's 1,240 intersections, for exan1ple, do u T\veet by U.S. Anny Corps of Engineers J-[eadquarters (February 27, 2018) (on line at https ://tv.' itter. com/USACEl-1Q/status/968548 81 06905 7228 8). 7 Gloria Ruiz Kuilan, "Aseguran que van a rcforzar trabajos para energizar el centro de la isla," El 1Yuevo Dfa (March J, 2018) (online at https://v.'\V\v.elnuevodia.co111/noticias/locales/nota/ase2uranguevanareforzartrabajosparaenergizarelcentrodelaisla2402949/); Hugh Bronstein, ''In the mountains otPuerto Rico, hurricane recovery is slov.'er," Reuters (October 10, 20 17) (onl ine at https: I/\VV.'W .reuters. co1n/artic le/us-usa-pue1tori co-recovery/i n-the-mounta ins-of-puerto-ricoh urri cane-recovery-is-s Iower-idUS I< BN I CF3?L). 8 Chris Martin, ''After Months Without Pov.'er, Puerto Rico School Ditches Grid,'' Bloo111berg (February 15, 2018) (online at https://\V\V\v.bloo1nberg.co111/ne\vs/articles/20 I 8-02-15/after-n1onths-\vithout~power-one-puerto-rico­ schoo 1-d itches-grid). 'l Frances Robles, "Contractors Are Leaving Puerto Rico, Where Many Still Lack Po\ver,'' Ne1v York Ti111es (February 26, 2018) (onli11e at https://www.nytilnes.co1n/20 l 8/02/26/us/puerto-rico-power-cont1·actor.h1ml); tweet fi·om U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters (February 16, 2018) (on!ine at https://twitter.con1/lJSACEHO/status/964568830734426113); t\veet fro1n U.S. Arn1y Corps ofEngineers I-!eadquarters (March l 2, 2018) (on line at htLps://t?:itter.con1/lJSACEHO/status/973247272 l 034 l 5809). io Frances Robles, "Contractors Are Leaving Puerto Rico, Where Many Still Lack Pov.'er," Ne1r York Tilnes (February 26, 20 l 8) (on line at https://w\V\V .nytimes.com/20 18/02/26/us/puerto-rico-powcr-contractor.html). 11 T\veet by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1-leadquarters (February 27, 2018) (online at https://t\vitter.corn/USACEl-IQ/status/968545767924338689). 12 Tweet by U.S. Arn1y Corps of Engineers Headquarters (February 27, 20 J 8} (on!ine at https ://twitter. com/USA CEl1Q/status/96854 57 63 6713 308 ! 7). 13 Tom Corrigan and Andre\v Scurria, "Federal Judge Approves $300 Million Loan for Puerto Rico Utility," IYal/ Street Journal (February 19, 20 18) (online at https://v.'\VW. wsj.corn/artic!es/federal-judge-approves-300-1ni\Jionloan-for-puerto-rico-utility-15 l 9085812). not have functioning traffic lights, includi11g at least 424 that are ready to be energized b)' PREPA-reportedly causing chaos on the streets. 14 In addition, recurring power outages in areas \Vhere po\ver has been previously restored raise significant questions about tl1e reliability of service. In mid-February, a PREPA power station exploded, causing the island to lose at least 400 mega\vatts of power ge11eration and causing parts of San Juan and northern Ptterto Rico "that had regained po\ver in the afte11nath of the Septe1nber storm [to be) plunged ii1to darkness again." 15 Another blackout on March 1 affected almost one million residents in San Juan and nearby areas, and came "amid wami11gs from officials that fPREPA} is struggling to re1nain operational.'' 16 While there are nt1merous anecdotal reports of new power outages, there is little systematic information on tl1ese events. A11d according to a recent DOE report, just 71 o/o of PREPA's 56 transmission centers are . I. " operat1ona 111 Januaf)' 2018, the Con11nander of Puerto Rico's Power Restoration Task Force reaffirmed tl1at "USACE is comn1itted to tl1e restoration of power for tl1e people of Puerto Rico and ... will continue to press forward until the mission is coniplete.'' 18 To help us better understand the current status the federal go\ em1nent's efforts to restore povver to Puerto Rico, as well as tl1e challenges facing FEMA, the Arn1y Corps. and its partners it1 power restoration efforts, \Ve request a response to the following no later than March 28, 2018. In addition, we request a staff briefi11g on t11e response no later than March 30, 2018. 1 1. Please provide a11 overvie\V of how FEMA, the A1111y Corps, and other federal agencies plan to restore po,ver to up to 95% of Puerto Rico by March 31, 2018. I-I ow many workers, including federal \Vorkers and contractors, are required for these po\ver restoration efforts? What types of materials, and in what qum1tities, are required for these po\ver restoration efforts? 2. Please provide an overview of how FEMA, the Army Corps, and other federal agencies plan to restore po\ver to 90-95o/o of Puerto Ricans living in less accessible, motn1tainous, and sparsely-populated regions-including a description of the challenges facing restoration workers tl1at are unique to these regions. How niany workers, including federal \\'orkers and contractors, do tl1e age11cies anticipate will be required for these H Javier Col6n Davila, "Los se1naforos dai\ados estaran reparados para verano," El 1V11evo Dia {February 22, 2018) (on 1ine at https://W\V\V. el nue vod ia.co1n/notic ias/loca les/nota/lossem aforosdanadosestaranreparadosparaverano2400904/). 15 Chantal Da Silva, "Pue1to Rico (,lit With New Blackout After Explosion at Po\ver Plan," Ne>vsu·eek (Februa1y 12, 20 ! 8) (on line at http://v.'wv.:.ne\VS\veek.co1n/pue1to-rico-hit-blackout-aficr-explosion-power-plant-80284 7). 16 Danica Coto, "Blackout hits Puerto Rico after 2 po\ver plants shut down," Associated Press (March l, 2018} (on Iine at https://V>'\V\V. \\'ash in gtonpost. com/world/the ainericas/blackout-h its-puerto~rico-after- 2-po\ver-p lanlssh ut-do\vn/2 0 18/03/0 l /b04cd78c- I d92~ 1 l e8-98f5-ceecfa874 l b6 story.html). 17 U.S. Depart1nent of Energy, "Hurricanes Maria & Inna: March 7 Event Sun1mary (Report #94}" (on line at https://\V\VW .energy. gov /s ites/prodlfi les/20 I 8/03/f4 9/1-1 urri canes'!-'020Maria0/o20o/o20I nna %20 Evento/o20Summary'!-'02 0March'!-'ci207'!-'02Co/o2020 ! 8.p