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Presidential Documents Title 3
The President
Resolution Regarding Use of Range Facilities on Vieques, Puerto
Rico (Referendum)
Directive to the Secretary of Defense [and] Director,
Office of Management and Budget
February 4, 2000
Federal Register
Copyright © 2000 FEDERAL INFORMATION & NEWS DISPATCH,
INC. All Rights Reserved.
[Page 5729]
By virtue of the authority vested in me and in order to further
the interests of national security and to address the legitimate
interests and concerns of the residents of Vieques and the people
of Puerto Rico, I hereby direct the following:
1. The future of Navy training on Vieques will be determined
by a referendum of the registered voters of Vieques, using Puerto
Rico electoral laws and regulations as they exist as of the date
of this directive. This referendum will occur on May 1, 2001,
or 270 days prior to or following May 1, 2001, the exact date
to be specified on the request of the Department of the Navy.
(This specified date and the terms of the referendum must be requested
at least 90 days in advance of the referendum.) It is understood
that the full implementation of this directive is contingent upon
the Government of Puerto Rico authorizing and supporting this
referendum, and the cooperation of the Government of Puerto Rico
as specified in paragraph 5(a).
2. This referendum will present two alternatives. The first
shall be that the Navy will cease all training not later than
May 1, 2003. The second will permit continued training, to include
live fire training, on terms proposed by the Navy. Live fire training
is critical to enhance combat readiness for all our military personnel
and must occur in some location.
3. In the event the referendum selects the option of termination
of Navy activities, then
(a) Navy lands on the Eastern side of Vieques (including the
Eastern Maneuver Area and the Live Impact Area) will be transferred
within 1 year of the referendum to the General Services Administration
(GSA) for disposal under the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act, except for conservation zones, which will be transferred
to the Department of the Interior for continued preservation.
(b) The GSA will supervise restoration of the lands described
in section 3(a) consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) before it
is further transferred under the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act, except that the Live Impact Area will be swept
for ordnance and fenced to meet the same range standards used
after the closure of the live impact area used by Naval Air Station,
South Weymouth, Massachusetts. The Government of Puerto Rico
may request transfer of the restored lands in accordance with
the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act.
(c) Under no conditions will the land described in this section
be returned to the Department of Defense or used for military
training.
4. In the event the referendum selects the option of continued
training submitted by the Navy, the Office of Management and Budget
will request congressional funding to further provide for the
enhancement of infrastructure and housing on the Western portions
of Vieques in the amount of $50 million.
[Page Number 5730]
5. Between the date of this directive and the referendum, the
following will occur:
(a) The Department of Defense and the Government of Puerto
Rico will work in cooperation with relevant Federal authorities
to ensure the integrity and accessibility of the range is uninterrupted
and trespassing and other intrusions on the range cease entirely
by providing complementary support among Federal and Puerto Rican
jurisdictions.
(b) Navy training on Vieques will recommence, but it shall
not exceed 90 days per calendar year and will be limited to nonexplosive
ordnance, which may include spotting devices.
(c) The Navy will ensure procedures are in place that will
enhance safety and will position ships to reduce noise in civilian
areas whenever possible.
(d) Before any major training occurs on the range, the Government
of Puerto Rico, through its Secretary of State, will be given
15 days notification under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding
of 1983.
(e) The Office of Management and Budget will initiate a funding
request to the Congress:
(1) to fund a Public Health Service study in coordination
with appropriate agencies to review health concerns raised by
the residents of Vieques .
(2) to complete the conveyance of 110 acres of Navy property
to extend the runway at the Vieques Municipal Airport to accommodate
larger passenger aircraft; and for the Navy to provide training
and supplemental equipment to bolster the airport fire, safety,
and resource capability.
(3) to maintain the ecosystem and conservation zones and implement
the sea turtle, sea mammal, and Brown Pelican management plans
as specified in the Memorandum of Understanding of 1983.
(f) Within 30 days of this directive, the Navy will submit
legislation to the Congress to transfer land on the Western side
of Vieques surrounding the Naval Ammunition Facility (except
100 acres of land on which the ROTHR and Mount Pirata telecommunications
sites are located). The legislation submitted will provide for
land transfer not later than December 31, 2000. This transfer
will be to the Government of Puerto Rico for the benefit of the
municipality of Vieques as determined by the Planning Board of
the Government of Puerto Rico . This land shall be restored consistent
with CERCLA standards prior to transfer.
6. The Director of OMB shall publish this directive in the
Federal Register G1.
\S\ WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, January 31, 2000.
[FR Doc. 00-2750 Filed 2-3-00; 11:22 am] BILLING CODE 3110-01-M
[Page 5731]
By separate directive I have addressed the resumption of Navy
and Marine Corps training on the island of Vieques.
1. Provided that training opportunity has resumed and is continuously
available on Vieques , then within 90 days of this directive,
I direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request
authority and funding (which with funding for projects described
in paragraph 5(e) of the previously referenced directive will
total $40 million) from the Congress for the following projects:
(a) To support the construction of a new commercial ferry
pier and terminal by the Army Corps of Engineers.
(b) To establish an artificial reef construction and fish
aggregation program to create substantial new commercial fishing
areas for Vieques fisherman. Until such time as these new fishing
grounds are operational, this legislation will authorize direct
payments of an amount (to be determined by the National Marine
Fisheries Services) to be paid to registered Vieques commercial
fishermen for each day they are unable to use existing waters
because the Navy is training.
(c) To support expanding or improving the major cross-island
roadways and bridges on Vieques .
(d) To establish an apprenticeship/training program for young
people on Vieques to facilitate participation in small-scale
civic construction projects.
(e) To establish a program with the Government of Puerto Rico
to preserve the Puerto Mosquito Vieques bioluminescent bay and
to commit Federal resources to its preservation.
(f) To establish a professional economic development office
for Vieques for the purpose of promoting Vieques and attracting
jobs to the island.
2. The Director of OMB shall publish this directive in the
Federal Register G1.
\S\ WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, January 31, 2000.
[FR Doc. 00-2751 Filed 2-3-00; 11:22 am] BILLING CODE 3110-01-M
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