U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. today announced that, according to a legal opinion issued by Attorney General Gordon Rhea on October 2, 2025, the permit for the Summer’s End Marina Project in Coral Bay, St. John, remains valid under Virgin Islands law.
The Attorney General concluded that the 12-month commencement deadline in 12 V.I.C. § 910(d)(7) does not begin until all required federal approvals are received. Under the opinion, a coastal zone permit that is contingent on federal approvals pursuant to 12 V.I.C. § 910(g) and § 911(e) is not considered an approved permit for purposes of the statutory deadline until agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issue the necessary approvals. As a result, the Summer’s End permit has not lapsed or expired and remains in effect while federal review is pending.
Governor Bryan said the opinion resolves questions that have caused public debate and ensures government agencies act in line with the law.
“The Attorney General’s opinion is the controlling legal interpretation, and it provides clarity for the public and for our federal partners,” Governor Bryan said.
He emphasized that his role is not to take sides on individual developments but to ensure the integrity of the permitting process.
“Our duty is to uphold the law and administer it consistently. This opinion makes the statute clear and provides the guidance that executive agencies will follow,” he said.
The Governor noted that the opinion does not authorize construction, does not grant federal approvals, and does not judge the merits of the project. It only establishes when the statutory 12-month clock begins to run.
“With this clarification, residents, developers, and federal partners can have confidence that coastal zone permitting in the Virgin Islands is being administered according to the law, not politics,” Governor Bryan said.
Read the Attorney General’s Opinion here.
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