[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 167 (Monday, August 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52100-52101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21874]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Assessment for 
the Proposed Transfer of Naval Ammunition Support Detachment Property, 
Vieques, Puerto Rico

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 United States Department of the Navy (Navy) 
gives notice that a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) has been 
prepared to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the 
transfer and subsequent redevelopment of the Naval Ammunition Support 
Detachment (NASD) property on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. The United 
States Department of Interior (USDOI) is a cooperating agency in the 
preparation of this draft EA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Ruth Diaz, Community Relations 
Office, U.S. Naval Forces South, at (787) 865-5691 or write to 
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces South, Federico Degetau Federal Building, 
Room 354, 150 Carlos Chardon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 31, 2000, the President of the 
United States directed the Navy to submit legislation to Congress to 
transfer the western end of Vieques to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 
for the benefit of the Municipality of Vieques. This directive was the 
culmination of a negotiated agreement between the President and the 
Governor of Puerto Rico concerning the Navy's continued use of the 
eastern end of Vieques as a training range. Draft legislation was 
submitted to Congress on February 25, 2000, but as of August 20, 2000, 
this legislation has not been enacted. The Navy cannot transfer the 
NASD property to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico without legislative 
authority. Although the draft legislation has not been enacted, this 
draft EA was prepared in anticipation of congressional direction to 
transfer the NASD property. The analyses contained in this draft EA are 
based on the legislation as submitted to Congress in February 2000. The 
legislation, if enacted by Congress, would require the Navy to transfer 
the land comprising the NASD to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by 
December 31, 2000. This conveyance would not include approximately 100 
acres of land on NASD that comprise the Relocatable Over-the-Horizon 
Radar site, the Monte Pirata telecommunication site, and adjacent areas 
needed for access and operation of these facilities.
    The proposed action is the transfer of approximately 7,900 acres 
comprising the NASD property to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Of the 
approximately 7,900 acres, approximately 3,900 acres has been 
designated in a draft Co-Management Agreement (CMA) developed between 
the Commonwealth and the USDOI as conservation areas. These 
conservation areas include the Conservation Zones designated pursuant 
to the 1983 Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth and 
the Navy. These conservation areas will be managed pursuant to a 
Conservation and Management Plan pursuant to the CMA to protect and 
preserve their natural and cultural resources in

[[Page 52101]]

perpetuity for the benefit of the general public.
    The draft EA also evaluates the potential indirect environmental 
impacts of the land conveyance associated with the reuse and 
development of the non-conservation lands as proposed in a conceptual 
land use plan developed by the Commonwealth. Following a phased 
approach, the non-conservation land would be made available for low 
density residential development, tourism-related commercial and 
residential development, and mixed use development pursuant to a land 
use plan prepared by the Puerto Rico Planning Board. Passive 
recreational uses, such as hiking and biking, would be allowed within 
the conservation zones, however, no new construction or development 
would be permitted. Green Beach would be open for public use.
    The Navy is currently consulting with the Puerto Rico State 
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding compliance of this action 
with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Prior to 
the transfer, the Navy, USDOI, the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation, and the SHPO will sign a Programmatic Agreement (PA) that 
assures: (1) Historic properties located within the Conservation Zones 
as defined in the CMA will be afforded protection pursuant to 
protection measures within the CMA, (2) all archaeological sites 
eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, as well as 
unevaluated sites, that are located on land within the jurisdiction of 
the Commonwealth will be protected under procedures contained in the 
PA, and (3) the USDOI will be responsible for consultation with the 
SHPO for future undertakings in the Conservation Zones defined by the 
CMA, including development of and modifications to the management plan 
for those Zones.
    There are currently ongoing Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) studies, investigations, and 
as necessary, site cleanups that will not be completed prior to the 
projected completion of the final EA. This draft 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 or 
after completion of site cleanups. The ongoing investigations and 
remediation of contaminated areas are not subject to consideration 
within this draft EA since under the CERCLA process, all studies and 
proposed remedial actions will be fully discussed with the regulators 
and the public.
    The analysis conducted in the draft 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, cultural resources, environmental 
contamination, and coastal zone management. The Navy's analysis of 
potential effects of the proposed action is founded on the assumption 
that Congress would enact the Transfer Legislation substantially as 
described in the draft EA. Based on the assumptions and the analyses in 
the draft EA, implementation of the proposed action appears to have no 
significant impacts on the environment. However, the Navy will 
incorporate public comments into the final EA before making a decision 
on the environmental significance of the proposed action. If warranted, 
a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be prepared, and the 
final EA and FONSI will be made available for public review on or about 
December 1, 2000.
    Written comments on the draft EA are requested not later than 
September 27, 2000. Comments should be as specific as possible. 
Comments should be mailed to: Commander, U.S. Naval Forces South, 
Federico Degetau Federal Building, Room 354, 150 Carlos Chardon Avenue, 
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918. For additional information, write to the 
above address or call Mrs. Ruth Diaz, Community Relations Office, U.S. 
Naval Forces South, at (787) 865-5691.
    A limited number of copies of the draft EA, in either English or 
Spanish, can be obtained by contacting the above address. In addition, 
copies of the draft EA are available for public review at the following 
repositories:
Biblioteca Publica Jose Gauthier Benitez, Municipio de Vieques, Calle 
Carlos Leburn, No. 449, Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765.
Museo Fuerte de Mirasol, Barrio Fuerte, Magnolia No. 471, Vieques, 
Puerto Rico 00765.
Carnegie Public Library, 7 Ponce de Leon Avenue, San Juan, Puerto Rico 
00901-2010.
Bibioteca Publica Municipal Alejandrina Quinonez Rivera, Urbanizcion 
Rossy Valley No. 816, Calle Francisco Guthier, Cieba, Puerto Rico 
00735.

    Dated: August 22, 2000.
J.L. Roth,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-21874 Filed 8-25-00; 8:45 am]
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