[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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