Welcome to the Puerto Rico Environment

As a volcanic island located in the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico is geographically distinctive. The Commonwealth, part of a group of islands known as the Greater Antilles, is roughly the size of Connecticut and has a population of 3.9 million, with over a third of its inhabitants living in the San Juan metropolitan area. The landmass of Puerto Rico is comprised of a coastal plain bisected by a chain of mountains that divides it in half. This central mountain range plays a large part in affecting weather patterns and accounts for the dramatic natural diversity that exists in Puerto Rico. With ecosystems ranging from bioluminescent bays and tropical mangrove swamps to dazzling coral reefs and one of the only protected tropical rainforests in the United States, Puerto Rico is environmentally unique. These resources draw a wide variety of visitors who travel to Puerto Rico to enjoy ecological tourism and nature-based recreational activities.

Caribbean Environmental Protection Division Centro Europa Building, Suite 417 1492 Ponce de Leon Avenue San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907-4127 Phone: (787) 977-5870 FAX: (787) 729-7747 Puerto Rico Environmental Resources Junta de Calidad Ambiental (Environmental Quality Board) U.S. Geological Survey Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (Department of Natural Resources and Environment) Departamento de Salud (Department of Health) Departamento de Agricultura (Department of Agriculture) Autoridad de Desperdicios Solidos (Solid Waste Authority) Administración de Asuntos de Energia (Administration for Energy Affairs) Compañia de Parques Nacionales (Puerto Rican National Parks Company) San Juan National Historic Site

Cleanup Sites By Municipality Cleanup Sites By Site Name Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System General Permit Vieques Cleanup Solid Waste in Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Water Resources and Environmental Research Institute   EPA has launched a new hurricane preparedness Web page in Spanish to provide information to Spanish speakers and Hispanic businesses nationwide, including Puerto Rico. Early preparations during hurricane season can minimize injury and property damage. Households and businesses should take this opportunity to start planning at the beginning of the hurricane season and prepare well in advance. Hurricane preparedness information: En Español