[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 7053-7055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X03-10211]



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Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 7647--Establishment of the Governors Island National 
Monument
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                         Presidential Documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 28 / Tuesday, February 11, 2003 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 7053]]

                Proclamation 7647 of February 7, 2003

                
Establishment of the Governors Island National 
                Monument

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On the north tip of Governors Island, at the confluence 
                of the Hudson and East Rivers, stand two fortifications 
                that served as an outpost to protect New York City from 
                sea attack. These two important historic objects, 
                Castle Williams and Fort Jay, are part of a National 
                Historic Landmark District designated in 1985. Between 
                1806 and 1811, these fortifications were constructed as 
                part of the First and Second American Systems of 
                Coastal Fortification. Castle Williams and Fort Jay 
                represent two of the finest examples of defensive 
                structures in use from the Renaissance to the American 
                Civil War. They also played important roles in the War 
                of 1812, the American Civil War, and World Wars I and 
                II.

                These fortifications were built on the most strategic 
                defensive positions on the island. Fort Jay, 
                constructed between 1806 and 1809, is on the highest 
                point of the island from which its glacis originally 
                sloped down to the waterfront on all sides. Castle 
                Williams, constructed between 1807 and 1811, occupies a 
                rocky promontory as close as possible to the harbor 
                channels and served as the most important strategic 
                defensive point in the entrance to the New York Harbor.

                Governors Island was managed by the United States Army 
                and the United States Coast Guard for nearly 200 years, 
                but is no longer required for defense or Coast Guard 
                purposes. It provides an excellent opportunity for the 
                public to observe and understand the harbor history, 
                its defense, and its ecology. Its proximity to lower 
                Manhattan also makes it an appropriate location from 
                which to reflect upon the tragic events of September 
                11, 2001.

                Section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 
                U.S.C. 431) (the ``Antiquities Act''), authorizes the 
                President, in his discretion, to declare by public 
                proclamation historic landmarks, historic and 
                prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic 
                or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands 
                owned or controlled by the Government of the United 
                States to be national monuments, and to reserve as a 
                part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which in 
                all cases shall be confined to the smallest area 
                compatible with the proper care and management of the 
                objects to be protected.

                A Governors Island National Monument was established by 
                Proclamation 7402 of January 19, 2001, in order to 
                protect the two fortifications. The monument, however, 
                remained subject to Public Law 105-33, section 9101, 
                111 Stat. 670 (August 5, 1997), which required the 
                entire island, including the monument lands, to be sold 
                with a right of first offer to the State and City of 
                New York.

                WHEREAS the State and City of New York each executed a 
                consent and waiver of the right of first offer 
                regarding Governors Island; and

                WHEREAS the portion of Governors Island described on 
                the accompanying land description was sold to the 
                National Trust for Historic Preservation (National 
                Trust), on January 31, 2003, and the remainder of 
                Governors Island was sold to the Governors Island 
                Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) of the 
                State and City of New York, on January 31, 2003; and

[[Page 7054]]

                WHEREAS the National Trust, on January 31, 2003, 
                relinquished and conveyed to the United States of 
                America all lands owned by the National Trust on 
                Governors Island; and

                WHEREAS such relinquishment and conveyance have been 
                accepted by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) 
                pursuant to the Antiquities Act; and

                WHEREAS it appears that it would be in the public 
                interest to preserve Castle Williams, Fort Jay, and 
                certain lands and buildings necessary for the care and 
                management of the Castle and Fort as the Governors 
                Island National Monument;

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by the authority vested in me 
                by section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 
                16 U.S.C. 431), do proclaim that there are hereby set 
                apart and reserved as the Governors Island National 
                Monument for the purpose of protecting the objects 
                identified above, all lands and interests in lands 
                owned or controlled by the United States within the 
                boundaries described on the accompanying land 
                description, which is attached to and forms a part of 
                this proclamation. The Federal land and interests in 
                land reserved consist of approximately 22 acres, 
                together with appurtenant easements for all necessary 
                purposes and any associated federally owned personal 
                property of historic interest, which is the smallest 
                area compatible with the property care and management 
                of the objects to be protected.

                All Federal lands and interests in lands within the 
                boundaries of this monument are hereby appropriated and 
                withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, 
                sale, or leasing or other disposition under the public 
                land laws, including but not limited to withdrawal from 
                location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and 
                from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and 
                geothermal leasing.

                The Secretary shall manage the monument consistent with 
                the purposes and provisions of this proclamation. For 
                the purpose of preserving, restoring, and enhancing the 
                public visitation and appreciation of the monument, the 
                Secretary shall prepare a management plan for the 
                monument within 3 years of the date of this 
                proclamation. Further, to the extent authorized by law, 
                the Secretary shall promulgate any additional 
                regulations needed for the proper care and management 
                of the objects identified above.

                The establishment of this monument is subject to valid 
                existing rights, if any such rights are present.

                Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke 
                any existing withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; 
                however, the national monument shall be the dominant 
                reservation.

                Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not 
                to appropriate, injure, destroy, or remove any feature 
                of this monument and not to locate or settle upon any 
                of the lands thereof.

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                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand three, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

Billing code 3195-01-P