[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 5729-5731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2750]



[[Page 5727]]

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Part II





The President





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Directive of January 31, 2000--Resolution Regarding Use of Range 
Facilities on Vieques, Puerto Rico (Referendum)



Directive of January 31, 2000--Resolution Regarding Use of Range 
Facilities on Vieques, Puerto Rico (Community Assistance)
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 24 / Friday, February 4, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 5729]]

                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.

[[Page 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.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, January 31, 2000.

[FR Doc. 00-2750
Filed 2-3-00; 11:22 am]
Billing code 3110-01-M