Presidential Documents

5729

Federal Register

Vol. 65, No. 24

Friday, February 4, 2000

Title 3—

The President

Directive of January 31, 2000

Resolution Regarding Use of Range Facilities on Vieques,

Puerto Rico (Referendum)

Directive to the Secretary of Defense [and] Director, Office of Management and Budget

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.

5730 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 24 / Friday, February 4, 2000 / Presidential Documents

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 

œ–

Federal Register.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, January 31, 2000.

[FR Doc. 00–2750

Filed 2–3–00; 11:22 am]

Billing code 3110–01–M

Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 24 / Friday, February 4, 2000 / Presidential Documents 5731

Directive of January 31, 2000

Resolution Regarding Use of Range Facilities on Vieques,

Puerto Rico (Community Assistance)

Directive to the Secretary of Defense [and] Director, Office of Management and Budget

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 

œ–

Federal Register.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, January 31, 2000.

[FR Doc. 00–2751

Filed 2–3–00; 11:22 am]

Billing code 3110–01–M