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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities have closed a beach in the popular Puerto Rican island of Vieques after finding pieces of inactive munition.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the U.S. Navy has so far removed objects including a projectile and a mortar tail. Officials say none of the objects found pose any danger to visitors.
The Playa Grande beach area in the western region of the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge remained closed on Thursday.
The U.S. Navy used Vieques as a bombing range from the 1940s until May 2003. It has spent about $220 million so far to investigate and clean those lands.
Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi said Wednesday that Congress is seeking an additional $17 million for cleanup efforts next year.
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