A trio of municipalities in Puerto Rico is being forced to close what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls their "improperly run" landfills.

The federal agency said landfills in Toa Baja, Aguadilla and Santa Isabel "do not have required protections and should be closed to minimize any risks they may pose to surrounding communities."

The latest moves come after the EPA earlier told the municipalities of Vega Baja and Florida they also must close their landfills.

"It is my intention to work hand-in-hand with the municipalities and also the Puerto Rico government to find a solution to the pervasive landfill problem," said EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg said.

"But, these landfills are literally oozing contaminants into the soil and groundwater and many of them are located in environmentally sensitive à areas," he said.

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