[Presidential Decision Directives - PDD]
January 31, 2000
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
January 31, 2000
DIRECTIVE TO THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
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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