Main Vieques Page
My Experience in Vieques
Contact me: danvaz@ufl.edu
Write/download a letter or petition
Please visit: www.viequeslibre.org
Picture Gallery 1 Picture Gallery 2 Picture Gallery 3 Picture Gallery 4
Picture Gallery 5 Picture Gallery 6

Back to Vieques Main Page


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

 # # #


Vea el libro de visitantes(View My Guestbook)
Firme libro de visitantes (Sign My Guestbook)

Counter