75256 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 232 / Friday, December 1, 2000 / Notices

addresses are published as an Appendix

to DLA’s compilation of systems of

records notices.

Individuals should provide full name

and Social Security Number. For access

to electronic records created at HQ DLA

within the past 15 months, DLA

employees and military members with

online access to the database may query

the database by providing their name

and password. For access to archived

electronic records stored off-line,

address written inquiries to the HQ DLA

Privacy Act Officer, HQ DLA, ATTN:

DSS–C, 8725 John J. Kingman Road,

Suite 2533, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060–

6221, providing name and Social

Security Number.

Individuals who do not have access to

the HQ DLA database should submit

written inquiries to the HQ DLA Privacy

Act Officer, HQ DLA, ATTN: DSS–C,

8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 2533,

Fort Belvoir, VA 22060–6221, providing

name and Social Security Number.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:

The DLA rules for accessing records,

for contesting contents and appealing

initial agency determinations are

contained in DLA Regulation 5400.21,

32 CFR part 323, or may be obtained

from the Privacy Act Officer,

Headquarters, Defense Logistics Agency,

ATTN: DSS–C, 8725 John J. Kingman

Road, Suite 2533, Fort Belvoir, VA

22060–6221.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:

Information is collected from the

individual and the individual’s

supervisor, from the hiring activity’s

personnel office, and from travel and

expense forms.

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:

None.

[FR Doc. 00–30475 Filed 11–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 5001–10–P

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Notice of Availability of Final

Environmental Assessment and

Finding of No Significant Impact for

Transfer of the Naval Ammunition

Support Detachment Property, Vieques

Island, Puerto Rico

AGENCY: Department of Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C)

of the National Environmental Policy

Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on

Environmental Quality regulations (40

CFR Parts 1500–1508) implementing the

procedural provisions of NEPA, the

Department of the Navy (the Navy) gives

notice that an Environmental

Assessment (EA) has been prepared and

an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) is not required for transfer of the

Naval Ammunition Support Detachment

(NASD) property on Vieques Island,

Puerto Rico. The Navy intends to

transfer the majority of the property to

the Municipality of Vieques by

December 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sixto Escobar, Public Affairs Officer,

COMUSNAVSO, San Juan Detachment,

Federico Degetau Federal Building, 150

Carlos Chardon Avenue, Room 354,

Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918, or by email at escobars@nvastarr.navy.mil

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Floyd

D. Spence National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001,

Public Law (PL) 106–398, directed the

Navy to transfer the NASD property

(except for approximately 100 acres [40

hectares]) to the Municipality of

Vieques, Puerto Rico Conservation Trust

(PRCT), and United States Department

of Interior (DOI). While this legislation

differed from the draft legislation used

as a basis for preparing the draft EA, the

purposes of the land transfer and the

proposed management and reuse of the

property are essentially the same. The

action evaluated in the EA is the

conveyance of approximately 4,250

acres (1,700 hectares) of the NASD

property to the Municipality of Vieques,

which would be available for

development as generally described in

the proposed Vieques Land Use Plan

prepared by the Puerto Rico Planning

Board (PRPB) on behalf of the

Municipality of Vieques; the transfer of

approximately 3,050 acres (1,220

hectares) to DOI to be administered as

a national wildlife refuge; the

conveyance of 800 acres (320 hectares)

to PRCT to be managed as a wildlife

refuge; and the retention of easements

needed for continued access and

operation and maintenance of the

Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar

(ROTHR) and Monte Pirata

telecommunication facilities, which are

being retained by the Navy. The DOI

and PRCT wildlife refuges will be

managed pursuant to cooperative

agreement among DOI, PRCT, and the

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to

protect and preserve their natural and

cultural resources in perpetuity for the

benefit of the general public.

The analysis conducted in the EA

focused on the following resources:

Land Use and Aesthetics, Soils, Water

Quality, Air Quality, Noise, Terrestrial

and Marine Environments, Threatened

and Endangered Species,

Socioeconomics Conditions, Cultural

Resources, Environmental

Contamination, and Coastal Zone

Management. The analysis concluded

that implementation of the Proposed

Action will have no significant adverse

impacts on the environment and that an

EIS is not warranted.

The Final EA and FONSI, in either

English or Spanish, may be obtained

from: Sixto Escobar, Public Affairs

Officer, COMUSNAVSO, San Juan

Detachment, Federico Degetau Federal

Building, 150 Carlos Chardon Avenue,

Room 354, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918,

or by e-mail at

escobars@nvastarr.navy.mil

A limited number of copies of the EA

and FONSI are available to fill single

copy requests. In addition, copies of the

Final EA are available for public review

at the following repositories:

Biblioteca Publica Jose Gautier Benitez,

Municipio de Vieques, Calle Carlos

Lebrun, No. 449, Vieques, Puerto Rico

00765

Museo Fuerte Conde de Mirasol,

Barriada Fuerte, Magnolia No. 471,

Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765

Biblioteca Publica Municipal

Alejandrina Quinonez Rivera,

Urbanizacion Rossy Valley No. 816,

Calle Francisco Gatier, Cieba, Puerto

Rico 00735

Biblioteca Publica Carnegie, 7 Ponce de

Leon Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico

00901

Dated: November 28, 2000.

J.L. Roth,

Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate

General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register

Liaison Officer.

The text of the entire Finding of No

Significant Impact is provided as

follows:

Department of Defense

Department of the Navy

Finding of No Significant Impact for

Transfer of the Naval Ammunition

Support Detachment Property, Vieques

Island, Puerto Rico

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the

National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on

Environmental Quality regulations (40

CFR Parts 1500–1508) implementing the

procedural provisions of NEPA, the

Department of the Navy (the Navy) gives

notice that an Environmental

Assessment (EA) has been prepared and

an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) is not required for transfer of the

Naval Ammunition Support Detachment

(NASD) property on Vieques Island,

Puerto Rico.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 232 / Friday, December 1, 2000 / Notices 75257

The proposed action is to comply

with the Floyd D. Spence National

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal

Year 2001, Public Law (PL) 106–398,

directing the Navy to transfer the NASD

property (except for approximately 100

acres [40 hectares]) to the Municipality

of Vieques, Puerto Rico Conservation

Trust (PRCT), and United States

Department of Interior (DOI). The Navy

prepared and issued a draft EA on

August 25, 2000, based on the draft

legislation that was being considered at

that time by the U.S. Congress. The final

legislation, which is reflected in PL

106–398, differed from the draft

legislation regarding the parties to

whom the land is to be transferred and

the potential timing of the transfer.

Nonetheless, the purposes of the land

transfer and the proposed management

and reuse of the property are essentially

the same as proposed in the original

legislation. Thus, the Navy has

completed this final EA based on the

final legislation as reflected in PL 106–

398.

The proposed action evaluated in the

EA is the transfer of approximately

4,250 acres (1,700 hectares) of the NASD

property to the Municipality of Vieques,

which would be available for

development as generally described in

the proposed Vieques Land Use Plan

prepared by the Puerto Rico Planning

Board (PRPB) on behalf of the

Municipality of Vieques; the transfer of

approximately 3,050 acres (1,220

hectares) to DOI to be administered as

a national wildlife refuge; the transfer of

800 acres (320 hectares) to PRCT to be

managed as a wildlife refuge; and the

retention of easements needed for

continued access and operation and

maintenance of the Relocatable Overthe-Horizon Radar (ROTHR) and Monte

Pirata telecommunication facilities,

which are being retained by the Navy.

The wildlife refuges will be managed

pursuant to a cooperative management

Agreement among DOI, PRCT, and the

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to

protect and preserve their natural and

cultural resources in perpetuity for the

benefit of the general public. The statute

requires all the land to be transferred

not later than May 1, 2001; however,

individual transfers could occur

separately and independently prior to

that date. The proposed action does not

include, nor is it related to, any actions

by the Navy regarding continued

operation of the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet

Weapons Training Facility (AFWTF) or

the Eastern Maneuver Area, which are

located on the eastern half of Vieques.

The EA considers only the No Action

and Proposed Action alternatives.

Under the No Action alternative, the

Navy would retain all the NASD

property. Because PL 106–398 explicitly

directs the Navy to transfer the NASD

property, the Navy does not have the

legal authority to consider alternative

means for disposal or reuse of the

property. Because the No Action

alternative would not satisfy the

congressional mandate contained in the

proposed legislation, the No Action

alternative is not a reasonable course of

action.

The EA evaluates the direct

environmental impacts of the proposed

land transfer, as well as the potential

indirect environmental impacts of the

reasonably foreseeable reuse and

redevelopment of the land conveyed to

the Municipality. Following a phased

approach, the Municipality-owned land

would be made available for lowdensity residential development,

tourism-related commercial and

residential development, and mixed-use

development as conceptually proposed

in the Vieques Land Use Plan. Wildlifedependent recreational uses, such as

fishing, hunting, wildlife observation

and photography, environmental

education, and interpretation, would be

allowed within the DOI and PRCTowned wildlife refuges; however,

construction or development would be

limited to basic visitor facilities.

The Navy has completed consultation

with the United States Fish and Wildlife

Service (USFWS) and National Marine

Fisheries Service regarding compliance

with the Endangered Species Act. In

response to USFWS concerns about

potential adverse effects to federally

listed species from the proposed

development of the property to be

transferred to the Municipality of

Vieques, the PRPB modified the

proposed Vieques Land Use Plan to

prohibit development in areas where

federally threatened and endangered

species are known to occur. Potential

adverse impacts to federally endangered

hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles

will be avoided by designation of ‘‘no

development’’ zones along beaches that

provide suitable nesting habitat.

Similarly, ‘‘no development’’ areas are

designated surrounding four locations

where federally listed tree species

(cobana negra and beautiful goetzea) are

known to occur. The USFWS concluded

that the proposed action is not likely to

adversely effect any federally protected

species or associated habitat.

The EA demonstrates that there will

be no significant direct or indirect

impacts to cultural resources associated

with the transfer or conveyance of

NASD property. Cultural resources

located on the property transferred to

the Department of the Interior will

continue to come under the purview of

federal cultural resource protection

laws. No undertaking, as defined in the

National Historic Preservation Act

(NHPA), could proceed on the property

transferred to DOI until DOI has met the

requirements of Section 106 of the

NHPA. While the property conveyed to

the Municipality of Vieques or the PRCT

will not be subject to the provisions of

federal laws such as the NHPA, there

are Commonwealth laws and

regulations that expressly protect and

preserve cultural resources. These laws

and regulations require, among other

things, that the Puerto Rico Planning

Board approve all actions affecting

cultural resources. As a part of the PRPB

approval process, the Puerto Rico

Institute of History and Culture reviews

the proposed action regarding impacts

on historic and cultural resources.

Commonwealth law also restricts the

ability of municipalities to alter PRPB

regulations and zoning restrictions that

relate to historic or cultural resources.

Notwithstanding the protection

provided under Commonwealth laws

and regulations, the Puerto Rico State

Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO)

and the President’s Advisory Council on

Historic Preservation (ACHP) expressed

concern over potential impacts to

cultural resources. The Navy has

attempted to address these concerns

through discussions of a Programmatic

Agreement under section 106 of the

NHPA. In addition to the SHPO and the

ACHP, the U.S. Department of the

Interior, the Puerto Rico Department of

Natural Resources, the Puerto Rico

Planning Board, the Municipality of

Vieques, and the PRCT also participated

in the section 106 consultation process.

At this time, agreement on a proposed

Programmatic Agreement has not been

achieved. Perceiving an inability to

reach agreement, Navy gave notice of

termination of the consultation process

to the ACHP on November 27, 2000. The

absence of a Programmatic Agreement

under the NHPA does not affect the

application of Commonwealth laws and

regulations to cultural resources. The

Navy will continue to work with the

interested parties in an effort to ensure

that cultural resources are protected

under applicable laws and regulations.

As a result of Navy’s efforts, the Puerto

Rico Planning Board has already issued

a directive requiring that the SHPO be

provided the opportunity to review and

comment on all projects affecting

cultural resources on the NASD

property transferred to PRCT or the

Municipality of Vieques.

The draft EA was prepared

concurrently with the performance of

relevant Comprehensive Environmental

75258 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 232 / Friday, December 1, 2000 / Notices

Response, Compensation, and Liability

Act (CERCLA) hazardous substance

studies and investigations. Some of the

ongoing CERCLA studies (e.g., site

investigations, remedial studies and

designs, risk assessments) will not be

completed until after the transfer of the

property. The EA is based on the most

currently available data and

information, and reasonable

assumptions regarding land use and

other restrictions, which may be

implemented to protect human health

and the environment prior to

completion of site remediation. The

ongoing investigation and remediation

of contaminated areas are not subject to

consideration within this EA.

The analysis conducted in the EA

focused on the following resources:

Land Use and Aesthetics, Soils, Water

Quality, Air Quality, Noise, Terrestrial

and Marine Environments, Threatened

and Endangered Species,

Socioeconomic Conditions, Cultural

Resources, Environmental

Contamination, and Coastal Zone

Management. The analysis concluded

that implementation of the Proposed

Action will have no significant adverse

impacts on the environment and that an

EIS is not warranted.

Based on information gathered during

preparation of the EA, the Navy finds

that the transfer of the NASD property

will not significantly impact human

health or the environment. The EA and

FONSI prepared by the Navy addressing

this action may be obtained from:

Commander, Atlantic Division, Naval

Facilities Engineering Command, 1510

Gilbert Street, Norfolk, Virginia, 23511–

2699, (Attn: Mr. Bob Waldo, Code

2032RW), e-mail:

waldorh@efdlant.navfac.navy.mil or

telephone (757) 322–4895. A limited

number of copies of the EA and FONSI

are available to fill single copy requests.

November 28, 2000.

Duncan Holaday,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy

(Installations and Facilities).

[FR Doc. 00–30751 Filed 11–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3810–FFP

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Privacy Act of 1974; System of

Records

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice to amend records

systems.

SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy

proposes to amend 14 systems of

records notices in its inventory of record

systems subject to the Privacy Act of

1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

DATES: The amendments will be

effective on January 2, 2001 unless

comments are received that would

result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the

Department of the Navy, PA/FOIA

Policy Branch, Chief of Naval

Operations (N09B30), 2000 Navy

Pentagon, Washington, DC 20350–2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs.

Doris Lama at (202) 685–6545 or DSN

325–6545.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Department of the Navy’s record system

notices for records systems subject to

the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a),

as amended, have been published in the

Federal Register and are available from

the address above.

The Department of the Navy proposes

to amend 14 systems of records notices

in its inventory of record systems

subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5

U.S.C. 552a), as amended. The changes

to the system of records are not within

the purview of subsection (r) of the

Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as

amended, which requires the

submission of new or altered systems

reports. The records systems being

amended are set forth below, as

amended, published in their entirety.

Dated: November 22, 2000.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison

Officer, Department of Defense.

N05000–1

SYSTEM NAME:

General Correspondence Files

(September 9, 1996, 61 FR 47483).

CHANGES:

* * * * *

SYSTEM LOCATION:

Delete entry and replace with

‘‘Organizational elements of the

Department of the Navy. Official

mailing addresses are published as an

appendix to the Navy’s compilation of

systems of records notices.

Commander in Chief, U.S. Joint

Forces Command, 1562 Mitscher

Avenue, Suite 200, Norfolk, VA 23551–

2488.

Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific

Command, PO Box 64028, Camp H.M.

Smith, HI 96861–4028.’’

* * * * *

N05000–1

SYSTEM NAME:

General Correspondence Files.

SYSTEM LOCATION:

Organizational elements of the

Department of the Navy. Official

mailing addresses are published as an

appendix to the Navy’s compilation of

systems of records notices.

Commander in Chief, U.S. Joint

Forces Command, 1562 Mitscher

Avenue, Suite 200, Norfolk, VA 23551–

2488.

Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific

Command, PO Box 64028, Camp H.M.

Smith, HI 96861–4028.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE

SYSTEM:

Individuals who have initiated

correspondence with the Department of

the Navy.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

Incoming correspondence which may

include name, address, telephone

number, organization, date of birth, and

Social Security Number of

correspondent and supporting

documentation. Files also contain copy

of response letter and documentation

required to prepare the response.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:

5 U.S.C. 301, Departmental

Regulations and E.O. 9397 (SSN).

PURPOSE(S):

To maintain a record of

correspondence received and responses

made.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE

SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND

THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:

In addition to those disclosures

generally permitted under 5 U.S.C.

552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records

or information contained therein may

specifically be disclosed outside the

DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5

U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:

The DoD ‘Blanket Routine Uses’ that

appear at the beginning of the Navy’s

compilation of systems notices apply to

this system.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING,

RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND

DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:

STORAGE:

Paper and automated records.

RETRIEVABILITY:

Name, organization, and date of

correspondence.

SAFEGUARDS:

Access is provided on need-to-know

basis only. Manual records are

maintained in file cabinets under the

control of authorized personnel during

working hours. The office space in