CORRESPONDENT SARA GHANEM 
REPORTS, THIS MAY NOT BE AN 
ISOLATED CASE.
>> Reporter: TWO TEENAGERS ARE 
STILL IN A COMA AFTER THEY WERE 
EXPOSED TO A DEADLY PESTICIDE 
WHILE ON SPRING BREAK WITH THEIR
FAMILY.
NOW CNN HAS LEARNED THE SAME 
CHEMICAL WAS LIKELY ILLEGALLY 
USED MULTIPLE TIMES ACCORDING TO
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
THE GOVERNOR TOLD US THAT EVEN 
HIS OWN CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX WAS 
FUMIGATED WITH METHYL BROMIDE 
WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE IN 2013.
>> WHAT THESE COMPANIES DID OR 
APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN DOING IS 
CLEARLY A VIOLATION OF THE LAW 
AND THEY WILL BE HELD 
ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.
>> Reporter: THE EPA 
INVESTIGATION HAS ALREADY FOUND 
EVIDENCE THAT TERMINIX MAY HAVE 
ILLEGALLY USED METHYL BROMIDE AT
LEAST FOUR TIMES, INCLUDING THE 
DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING ON A 
VACATION VILLA ON St. CROIX AND 
ON ST. JOHN LAST FALL.
AUTHORITIES ARE NOW TRACKING 
DOWN THE RESIDENTS WHO STAYED AT
THE VILLAS BUT TERMINIX DIDN'T 
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
SPOKE TO A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL 
WHO SAID YOU GUYS HAD USED THIS 
SUBSTANCE INSIDE AT THIS RESORT 
BEFORE THIS INCIDENT.
>> YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I 
SAID BEFORE.
>> Reporter: WHAT PART?
>> THE PART THAT I CANNOT TALK 
TO YOU.
>> Reporter: I WILL GIVE YOU A 
CHANCE TO RESPOND.
>> WE CAN'T.
I'M AFRAID NOT.
YOU UNDERSTAND.
>> Reporter: THE COMPANY ISSUED 
A STATEMENT SAYING THAT IT IS 
QUOTE, COMMITTED TO PERFORMING 
ALL WORK IN A MANNER THAT IS 
SAFE AND IS LOOKING INTO THIS 
MATTER INTERNALLY AND 
COOPERATING WITH AUTHORITIES.
PEST CONTROL COMPANIES ARE 
SUPPOSED TO DOCUMENT USE OF 
METHYL BROMIDE.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT IF IN 
FACT THEY WERE FALSIFYING 
RECORDS -- 
>> THAT'S A CLEAR AND MALICE 
VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
>> Reporter: BUT FEDERAL 
DOCUMENTS AND PUBLIC RECORDS 
SHOW ON THE ISLANDS THERE WERE 
SERIOUS MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS.
THE EPA OVERSEES THE LOCAL 
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND 
NATURAL RESOURCES AND LAST YEAR,
DESIGNATED IT A QUOTE, HIGH 
RISK, SAYING IT DOES NOT MEET 
MANAGEMENT STANDARDS.
THAT CAME AFTER A TOP OFFICIAL 
WITH THE DPNR WAS CONVICTED OF 
USING THE AGENCY TO RUN DRUGS.
THE SECOND HIGH PROFILE SCANDAL 
INVOLVING THE AGENCY.
THE EPA SAYS THE INSPECTOR 
GENERAL IS ALSO INVESTIGATING 
THE DPNR BUT THE GOVERNOR, WHO 
JUST TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY, 
SAYS THE AGENCY'S ISSUES HAVE 
NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE ESMOND FAMILY.
HE BLAMES THE PEST CONTROL 
COMPANIES.
>> IT OCCURRED BECAUSE SOMEONE 
WAS CUTTING CORNERS, THOUGHT 
THEY COULD ENHANCE THEIR PROFIT 
MARGIN AND THAT THEY COULD GET 
AWAY WITH IT.
AND APPARENTLY EVEN IN MY OWN 
RESIDENCE, SOMEONE HAD BEEN 
GETTING AWAY WITH IT FOR QUITE 
SOME TIME.
>> Reporter: FEDERAL AUTHORITIES
ARE NOW SEIZING ALL REMAINING 
CANISTERS OF METHYL BROMIDE 
ACROSS THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 
AND SHIPPING THEM OFF ISLAND.
