Limetree Water Distribution Program

This website has been set up to inform the people of St. Croix about the Limetree Water Distribution Program, including providing information about the details of the program, eligibility requirements, and how to submit a claim. Please see the FAQ(s) below for this information.

The Limetree Water Distribution Program is intended to provide free water for St. Croix residents who believe that their current residence was impacted by a release from the Limetree Bay Facility on February 4, 2021, or May 12, 2021, who rely or relied on cistern water, and who cannot afford to purchase water without trading off other basic necessities. A full list of the requirements to be eligible for the Water Distribution Program are listed in FAQ 3.

The Water Distribution Program is the result of a Preliminary Injunction ordered against Limetree Bay Terminals by the United States District Court of the Virgin Islands. For a copy of the Court’s Opinions and Orders, click here.

The Limetree Water Distribution Program is overseen by the Limetree Water Distribution Program Administrator (the “Administrator”).

To be an Eligible Resident you must meet the following four requirements:

1. You must attest AND support that you currently reside in one of the following estates (the “Covered Area”): Adventure, Betty’s Hope, Cane, Cain Carlton, Campo Rico, Carlton 1 North, Carlton 1 South, Carlton 2, Clifton Hill, Concordia, Diamond, Enfield Green, Envy, Frederiksted, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Hannah’s Rest, Hesselberg, Hogensborg, La Grange, Mannings Bay, Mount Pleasant, Negro Bay, Paradise, Ruans Bay, Sandy Point, Smithfield, Stony Ground, Two Brothers, Upper Bethlehem, Wheel of Fortune/Mars Hill, Whim, Whites Bay, Whites Bay 2, and Williams Delight; AND
2. You must attest that your current residence actively uses or used cistern water; AND
3. You must attest that you have a belief that your current residence was impacted by a Release Event; AND
4. You must attest and support that you meet certain criteria showing you cannot afford to purchase water without trading off other basic necessities (“Financial Hardship”).

You must submit a claim form and certain supporting documents listed below in FAQ 4 and/or FAQ 5.

To download a form, click here. To electronically complete and submit a Claim Form, click here. You may also obtain a claim form from your retained attorney, if any, OR by visiting one of the law offices OR from the Water Distribution Centers detailed in FAQ 6, OR by calling 1-877-889-6522.

To support your attestation of residency in the Covered Area, you must provide the following:

1. Proof of Identification: A copy of a valid photographic identification document such as a driver’s license or government identification card; AND
2. Reasonable Proof of Occupancy: A copy of a current lease, mortgage or mortgage statement, recent utility bill, recent credit card statement, deed, or similar document showing that you currently reside in the Covered Area. Please note that a Driver’s License or Government Identification showing your address is NOT sufficient to satisfy this requirement.

To support your attestation that you cannot afford to purchase water without trading off other basic necessities (Proof of Financial Hardship), you may use one of two options. Option 1 works if you or any member of your household is currently receiving public assistance through any of the following programs (Listed Programs). Option 2 (described in more detail below) works if you or any member of your household would be eligible to receive public assistance through any of the following programs (Listed Programs). Under either Option 1 or Option 2, you must provide documentation showing your qualification.

The attorneys listed in FAQ 6 or the Administrator are available to help you with your application.

Listed Programs:

• Medicaid;
• Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”);
• Social Security Disability Insurance (“SSDI”);
• the Medical Assistance Program (“MAP”);
• the Children’s Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”);
• the Housing Choice Voucher Program (“HCVP”);
• the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”);
• the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“D-SNAP”);
• the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (“WIC”);
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (“TANF”);
• the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (“LIHEAP”);
• the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (“LIHWAP”);
• the Energy Crisis Assistance Program; or
• Aid to the Blind, Aid to the Disabled, Aid to the Old Aged.

*For those programs that do not provide continuous annual benefits, it will be sufficient to demonstrate that you or any member of your household has been entitled to such benefits during the past six months.

Option 1: You may satisfy the proof required to show participation in a Listed Program by providing documentary proof of participation in any of the above Listed Programs by you or any member of your household. This documentary proof includes documents reasonably demonstrating admission into or participation in any such program within the past six months or current calendar year, whichever applies to the particular Listed Program, including:

• program cards confirming admission into or participation in one of the Listed Programs;
• Please note that if you are applying for the Water Program based on your participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) program that a SNAP card (also called a sun, sand & sea card) is not sufficient evidence for participation in SNAP for applying to the Water Program, and that you will need alternative proof of participation, such as a SNAP Notice of Decision letter.
• emails from one of the Listed Programs confirming admission into or participation in the program;
• internet website printouts confirming admission into or participation in one of the Listed Programs;
• letters confirming admission into or participation in one of the Listed Programs;
• financial documents (including bank statements) reflecting payments from one of the Listed Programs;
• or other similar documents evidencing admission into or participation in a Listed Program.

For Additional Information about eligibility requirements and required documentary proof, please click here.

Option 2: Although providing proof of participation in a Listed Program (Option 1) is the simplest way for an Applicant to demonstrate that they satisfy the Water Distribution Program’s Financial Hardship criteria, an Applicant may also qualify by demonstrating that they or any member of their household would be eligible to qualify for the benefits of one of the Listed Programs, based on the program’s eligibility criteria. To satisfy Option 2, Applicants will have to provide documentary proof that they or any member of their household would be eligible to qualify for the benefits of one of the Listed Programs. The eligibility requirements for certain of the Listed Programs, and additional information about required documentary proof, is provided in FAQ 5.

Please note that if you satisfy the documentary proof required under Option 1, you are not required to qualify under Option 2.

If you are seeking to qualify for the Water Distribution Program by showing Proof of Financial Hardship based on Option 2, please read this section carefully.

A. The financial eligibility criteria for the Listed Programs vary based on several factors, including the number of people in a household. The following chart displays the maximum annual income eligibility for certain Listed Programs. If you or any member of your household meets these income criteria, please see below for more information about additional eligibility requirements for the Listed Programs and the documentary proof that will be required.

B. For additional Information about eligibility requirements and required documentary proof, please click the below links:

• the Children’s Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”);
• the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“D-SNAP”);
• the Housing Choice Voucher Program (“HCVP”);
• the Medical Assistance Program (“MAP”);
• Medicaid;
• the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”);
• the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children (“WIC”)

You can complete and submit the Claim Form and supporting documentation using one of the following methods:

1. You can complete and submit the Claim Form and the required supporting documentation online here.
2. You can complete and submit the Claim Form and the required supporting documentation through your retained counsel, if you have one. You do not need an attorney in order to complete and submit the Claim Form.
3. You can complete and submit the Claim Form and supporting documentation at one of the following law offices located on St. Croix during regular business hours:
   
   

   Lee J. Rohn & Associates 56 King Street Third Floor Hamilton House Christiansted, U.S.V.I 340-778-8855 info@rohnlaw.com

   Colianni and Leonard 2120 Company Street Christiansted, St. Croix 340-719-1766 marina@colianni.com

   Dema Law 1236 Strand Street Suite 103 Christiansted, St. Croix 340-773-6142 dsugimura@demalaw.com

4. You can submit a Claim Form and supporting documentation at any of the following Grocery Stores:
   1. Stop and Shop, located at 52 Hannah’s Rest #D, Frederiksted, 00840;
   2. The Market, located at 14 Plessen, Frederiksted, 00840; and
   3. Plaza Extra East, located at 4200 United Shopping Plaza, 00820.

   All locations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except for Federal holidays or days when a particular participating grocery store is closed to the public.

5. You can complete and submit the Claim Form and supporting documentation by mailing it to the following address:
   
   Limetree Water Distribution Program Administrator
   P.O. Box 2257
   Portland, OR 97208-2257
6. You can email the completed Claim Form and supporting documentation to the following email address: info@LimetreeWaterProgram.com

Generally, once the Administrator has received a claim form, they will make an initial determination as to whether a Claim is eligible, deficient (meaning the Administrator requires additional information and/or documentation), or ineligible as quickly as possible. A determination notice will be mailed to you at the address you provided on your Claim Form.

The Administrator will provide the list of eligible Households to the Water Distribution Centers the day after the determination is made. Once your Claim is determined to be eligible, you will be eligible to collect water from a Water Distribution Center.

Once included in the Water Distribution Program, you do not have to present qualifying proof at the Distribution Centers to receive water but need only show your ID to demonstrate that you are on the Water Distribution Program List.

Water will be available for distribution to you at the following Grocery Stores:

• Stop and Shop, located at 52 Hannah’s Rest #D, Frederiksted, 00840;
• The Market, located at 14 Plessen, Frederiksted, 00840; and
• Plaza Extra East, located at 4200 United Shopping Plaza, 00820.

You may pick up your water at these locations from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except for Federal holidays or days when a particular participating grocery store is closed to the public.

There will be a designated Limetree Water Distribution desk within each grocery store for you to retrieve a voucher in order to pick up your water.

If you are otherwise eligible for the Limetree Water Distribution Program, but are unable to utilize a Distribution Center because you have a disability or medical infirmity which presents a sufficient hardship, you may be eligible to qualify for water delivery to your residence.

To apply for water delivery to your residence you must complete Section B.4. of the Claim Form, which requires you to affirm under penalty of perjury that you are unable to utilize a Distribution Center because you have a disability or medical infirmity which presents a sufficient hardship to your ability to pick up water from the Distribution Center. You must also make a written submission to the Administrator, supported by medical documentation signed by a doctor or hospital, requesting that water be delivered to your residence by Limetree Bay Terminals.

Eligible Residents will be required to re-certify eligibility every six (6) months while participating in the Water Distribution Program. Such certification must be submitted to the Administrator via the website, mail, or by email.

No, only one claim per household is needed. If the eligibility requirements are satisfied as to any adult in a household, then they are also deemed to have been satisfied by all other members of that person’s household residing at the same address (i.e., if a household has one Eligible Resident, then the household qualifies). For this reason, the Claim Form requests that the Applicant list all members of his or her household.

Each Eligible Resident is entitled to up to twelve (12) gallons of water per day per household, with a maximum amount per household of eighty-four (84) gallons of water per week.

If your application is denied by the Administrator and you believe such denial to have been in error, you may, through your own counsel if you have one, or on your own, file a Motion to be Declared an Eligible Resident with the Special Master. Before filing the Appeal you may also reach out to one of the law offices identified in response to FAQ 6 to get additional information about the viability of your appeal. Any Motion that you file should explain why you believe that the denial of your claim by the Administrator was in error. You can submit your request through the Administrator, by emailing info@LimetreeWaterProgram.com or by mail to:

Limetree Water Distribution Program Administrator
P.O. Box 2257
Portland, OR 97208-2257

Limetree Bay Terminals may challenge the eligibility of any Applicant deemed to be an Eligible Resident by filing a motion to disqualify the Applicant as an Eligible Resident with the Special Master. The Motion will explain why eligibility is being challenged. If Limetree Bay Terminals files such a Motion, you will need to file a response to the challenge within (5) business days.

Limetree Bay Terminals may also appeal the Administrator’s decision that an Eligible Resident is also eligible for home delivery because they have a disability or medical infirmity which presents a sufficient hardship to their ability to pick up water from the Distribution Center. The Motion will explain why your eligibility for home delivery is being challenged. You will need to file a response to the challenge within five business days.

The Special Master shall decide any Eligibility Appeals within two (2) weeks from the filing of any responses.

Any decisions on Eligibility Appeals, Home Delivery Appeals, or Unreasonable Appeals rendered by the Special Master may be appealed to the United States Magistrate Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands within fourteen (14) days of any such decision. All responses to any such appeals shall be due within five (5) business days. The decision of the United States Magistrate Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands relating to Eligibility Appeals, Home Delivery Appeals, or Unreasonable Appeals will be final and shall not be further appealable.