Land Swap Hearing Scheduled for July 9

Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen will convene the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs in the Virgin Islands in July to hear two of her legislative proposals. 

Christensen, who chairs the subcommittee that oversees territorial affairs, said H.R. 59, a proposal to convey certain submerged lands to the Government of the Virgin Islands and to extend the local territorial sea limit from three miles to nine miles and H.R. 53, a proposal to authorize the Secretary of Interior to enter into a long-term lease with the V.I. government to provide land on St. John for a school will be on the agenda.

“The submerged lands bill would extend our boundaries to nine miles, just as that of neighboring Puerto Rico,” Christensen said. “We will examine an amended bill, as our original version extended the limit to 12 miles.” 

The committee is inviting the governor, the chairman of the 28th Legislature’s Planning and Environmental Protection Committee, the commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the director of Fish and Wildlife, the V.I. representative of the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council and representatives of Virgin Islands fishermen to testify on this legislation. 

This hearing will take place on Monday, July 9, at 10 a.m. at the Charlotte Amalie High School.

“The St. John land swap for school bill will be heard at 6 p.m. on the same day, Monday, July 9, at a location to be determined on St. John,” Christensen said. “The bill would authorize the Secretary of Interior to enter into a long-term lease with the V.I. government to provide land on St. John for the establishment of a school.”

The governor, the V.I. National Park Superintendent, the senator at large and representatives of St. John community groups will be invited to attend.