# Summary of Jamaica Site Selection Visit -11/27-12/4/2005

Jack Odum: USGS golden, Co GHT/NEIC

Jean Weaver: USGS International Geology

Nov. 28

> Meeting with:
>
> Margaret Wiggins-Grandison of JSN to discuss site selection and to
> arrange meetings with government agencies
>
> Filbert Brown- in Ministry of Land and Environment generally receptive
> to idea, wanted to find out what else we could do and other uses for
> equipment. Brought up subject of planned improvement of Palisades/
> international airport area and discussed usefulness of seismic data,
> VS30 and NEHRP soil classifications to construction planning.
>
> Talked with \...\...\...\...\...\.... Spectral Management person
> (telecommunications under Ministry of Land and Environment about V-Sat
> application. Application form is on a URL site. Take of waving
> application fee's but will probably have to pay yearly fee. Need to
> follow up with Margaret on getting the URL site link as it was unclear
> at the time of discussion what it was.

Nov29-30.

Margaret, using JSN car took us to 3 potential site locations.

Mt. Airy site

Near Negrill on south west coast of Jamaica. JSN has a station here.
Very noisy with fans and generators and high towers.

After discussions it appears that this not a government owned site
(doesn't matter as it is a very poor site). Visited All Ages School
across road from Mt. Airy site. Slightly better but not useful for our
needs.

Bamboo Site;

Inland from the north central coast. Access is through the Boys Juvenile
Correctional Compound. JSN has a station here (BBJ). Site has two large
Cable and Wireless towers that are supported by cable anchors. Bad site.

Mt. Denham

Near small village of Pike. N 18 13.554 W 77 32.091

Nearest large towns are Christianna and Mandeville. JSN site (CVJ)

Of all sites visited this is the only one that is considered to be a
good site. It is located on limestone in the central part of the island.
Remote (quite) but has very good access. This site is the location of
the Civil Aviation radar complex. The station is manned 24/7, has power
and generator back up. The proposed seismograph site is located outside
of the fenced radar site but the entire mountain top is off limits and
posted. Very little if any

security would be required. Bedrock is near or exposed at the surface.
Limestone exposures show solution along fractures but it is the best you
are going to get in this country. Site of station has been bull dozed
off so surface weather material has been removed. See discussion on site
plan for additional information.

December 1-3, 2005

Attended 50th Anniversary of Jamaican Geological Society Conference

Before meeting meet with the Honorable Dean Peart Minister of Land and
Environment for a discussion of the project and what we needed form
them. He set a meeting for December 14 to discuss details with other
agencies, Margaret and USGS representatives. Jean eventually was able to
brief embassy people who represented USGS at this meeting .

Also spent time talking with Parris Lyew-Ayee, President of Jamaica
Geologic Society and General manager of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute.

Comments:

1.  Margaret will have to be our contact person in Jamaica in dealing
    with the Minister office, V-Sat and logistical efforts

2\. When we have all of our V-Sat issues resolved here and know we need
to make sure that our stuff will not interfere with the Civil Aviation
equipment and vice-versa.

3\. When equipment is shipped to Jamaica it needs to be transported to
the Mt. Drement compound. There it will be secure and waiting for us. If
it is put on pallets and shrink wrapped it will be fine.

4\. I think that at least one person from the Civil Aviation people (one
of those that is typically at the Civil Aviation site (CA) should be
involved in the training. I think these are going to be best qualified
people, will be already present at the site to make inspections or
repairs. It addresses the desire of the Minister to have more agencies
involved. Margaret is looking to get rid of the tech's she has and
replace them but it may take awhile. I have already mentioned using the
CA people and maybe one of her own staff, possibly a new graduate
student.

5\. The Minister indicated that he wished for the Army to be involved
and offered their services to help with the vault building. I think this
is a good idea. Part of the mission of the Army (Jamaican Defense Force)
is to assist in civil projects so this would fit well with their mission
statement and give them some good PR. I also believe that if we are able
to use the JDF engineers that we will have good people. At this site we
are going to have to excavate several feet into the rock. The JDF
engineers are probably equipped with back hoes, generators and
jack-hammers to do this kind of exaction. Also they may be able to
supply the concrete and an electrician. It may work out that the JFD
personnel will do most of the labor and our personnel will supervise.
The CA site has generator back up \[power interruptions occur happen
weekly (two during the 3 day meeting) but are generally short\]. We need
to communicate with the CA installation people about getting the GSN
station wired into their generator back up system.

6\. Personnel logistics. When our people arrive it will be to Kingston.
I recommend that they go from the airport to the hotel. I also think
that while working they need to be picked up and always accompanied by
someone from JSN (Margaret or tech). At this time I do not know if the
installation team will work out of Kingston or out of Mandeville. If out
of Mandeville, our Jamaican assistant should stay at the hotel with our
staff. It is possible that the staff will commute to the site each day
about 1.5 each way.

Jack K. Odum

Geologist

U.S. Geological Survey

Geologic Hazards Team

303-273-8645

FAX 303 273-8600