The National Park Service’s final 45-day public comment period for Virgin Islands National Park’s potential exchange of St. John land with the V.I. government for the island’s public education needs ends on Feb. 21.
Comments may be sent to the following address: Land Resources Program Office — National Park Service, 2975 Horseshoe Drive South, Suite 800, Naples, Florida 34104. Alternatively, comments may be emailed to russell_webb@nps.gov.
Local officials have expressed a long-standing need to construct the first public K-12 school on St. John. The territory determined that the Catherineberg Estate is the preferred site for the new school, due to its central location along an existing roadway and its relatively gentle slopes, in exchange for territory-owned Whistling Cay.
Further information on the overall design concerns and new programs are online here.
The park posted a “Notice of Realty Action,” or a public notice of terms and conditions to interested parties through online and print newspapers for awareness prior to the final public comment period opening.
The NPS issued a “Finding of No Significant Impact” on the environmental assessment for the potential land exchange. In response to a request from the territory in August to conduct an environmental assessment, the “Finding of No Significant Impact” outlines the land exchange and explains why the plan will have no significant effects on natural, cultural or human environments.
Because of this, an environmental impact statement is not needed. The “Finding of No Significant Impact” includes a summary of public comments received during the public comment period that closed on Sept. 22, as well as a determination that the activity will not lead to an impairment of park resources and values.
The National Park Service will continue to support and coordinate with the territory as requested on additional compliance elements as the land exchange proceeds and the future design and development of the school progresses.