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Department of Navy Transfers Vieques Property
Navy Newsstand ^ | 4/30/2003 4:00:00 PM | NNS Staff

Posted on 04/30/2003 8:34:35 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity

Special release from the U.S. Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of the Navy (DoN) has transferred all real property on the eastern end of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, to the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of Interior (DoI) as required under the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law 106-398), as amended by Section 1049 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (Public Law 107-107).

Under the law, DoI is required to develop the land for use as a wildlife refuge, with the former live impact area to be designated a wilderness area and closed to the public. $2.3 million has been designated this year for DoI to protect and conserve these natural resources. Additionally, DoN is demolishing and removing all temporary facilities and structures.

DoN will retain responsibility for the environmental cleanup of this property. The final extent and cost of the cleanup is linked to land use plans being developed by DoI in compliance with the National Wildlife Refuge Act. DoN will participate in future decisions and actions regarding the long-term environmental cleanup at Vieques.

For the latest news from around the fleet, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: puertorico; rooseveltroads; vieques
Saudi Arabia, Germany, everything French including the Paris Airshow, Puerto Rico. I think I'm seeing a pattern here....
1 posted on 04/30/2003 8:34:35 PM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Roosie Roads is next. No need for it now. Buh-bye Puerto Rico, remember, be careful what you ask for...
2 posted on 04/30/2003 8:41:38 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Wow, this is something. I can hardly wait to hear all those protesters singing Bush's praises. Any time now. Really. Waiting...
3 posted on 04/30/2003 8:43:17 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Why is the property closed to the public? Doesn't it belong to the "people" now?

4 posted on 04/30/2003 8:44:32 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
There is another lovely island in the Carib that would be an excellent substitution for Vieques - Martinique.

On our last cruise, we noticed there were fewer passengers, and many of those who we travelled with were disenchanted with Martinique and if given the choice would rather stop at another island. Given what rotten perverted $%*&#%@ the occupants on that island are, and at the time the Clinton administration was engaged in a jihad against the US military by decommisioning so many warships, I figured that the cruise line could pick up some old 16 inch guns, mount them onto the bow, and when the passengers get registered and come on board the first day, they can all sign their names and a cute message on the 2000lb round that will later be lobbed onto the island when the ship passes. Would be a great event and a wonderful gimick to attract cruisers.
5 posted on 04/30/2003 8:45:53 PM PDT by Dr Warmoose (Just don't leave any brass with your fingerprints on it behind, OK?)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Woo-hoo. Been waiting for this to finalize. Next!
6 posted on 04/30/2003 8:49:25 PM PDT by snippy_about_it (Pray for our Troops)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
They're having an almost full-blown riot on Vieques today. It's hard to tell scenes from Iraq from scenes from Vieques. :(
7 posted on 05/01/2003 10:08:35 AM PDT by 4Freedom (America is no longer the *Land of Opportunity*, it*s the *Land of Illegal Alien Opportunists*!!!)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
What a shame, how Puerto Ricans gave in to a few loudmouth separatist bullies and allowed the withdrawal of the Navy from Vieques (and Roosie Roads in the immediate future). I understand Fort Buchanan in Guaynabo may be vacated eventually, leaving, in essence, National Guard and Reserve units as the only U.S. military presence in the island.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
8 posted on 05/01/2003 10:39:54 AM PDT by Ebenezer (Strength and Honor!)
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To: rrstar96; Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Sorry rrstar, but it's a majority of Puerto Ricans that wanted the Navy off of Vieques and not just a few.

Even the so-called 'statehood' party was for throwing the Navy off of Vieques. Former PR governor, Pedro Rosello led the charge.

Not one political party stood by the United States military in either of the last two elections on the island.

The candidates of all 3 of the major parties in Puerto Rico campaigned for the Navy to leave Vieques.

9 posted on 05/01/2003 8:02:22 PM PDT by 4Freedom (America is no longer the *Land of Opportunity*, it*s the *Land of Illegal Alien Opportunists*!!!)
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To: 4Freedom
I knew the statehood supporters had jumped on the anti-Navy bandwagon, and I make no excuses for it. Former Governor Rosselló made a stupid move that, I believe, has adversely affected the credibility of pro-statehood Puerto Ricans.
10 posted on 05/02/2003 6:39:14 AM PDT by Ebenezer (Strength and Honor!)
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To: rrstar96
Only, if you believe that pro-statehood Puerto Ricans had any credibility to begin with. ;^)
11 posted on 05/02/2003 7:01:11 AM PDT by 4Freedom (America is no longer the *Land of Opportunity*, it*s the *Land of Illegal Alien Opportunists*!!!)
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