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DIRECTIVE TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT
AND BUDGET
THE WHITE HOUSE - Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release - January 31, 2000
SUBJECT: Resolution Regarding Use of Range Facilities
on Vieques, Puerto Rico (Referendum)
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
refer-endum 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 conser-vation 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 Adminis-trative 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.
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 uninter-rupted 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 non-explosive 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 tele-communications 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.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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