News Release

Buck Island Reef National Monument Anchoring Closure

Date: July 16, 2020
Contact: Gregory Camacho, 340.773.1460 x 222
Contact: Gabriel Laurencin, 340.773-1460 x 234 or 237

St. Croix, US Virgin Islands – Buck Island Reef National Monument: Under the authority provided to the Superintendent in 36 CFR 1.5 and 13.50, Buck Island Reef National Monument is announcing the immediate temporary restriction of public use of vessel anchoring and mooring at the park until further notice. Please Buck Island Reef’s webpage for current conditions and updates: www.nps.gov/buis/ .

This temporary closure is in response to the park having scheduled maintenance repairs around both the anchoring and moorings areas. This temporary closure will help mitigate the risks of park employees and/or contractors from potential hazards and provide a safe working area while divers are marking GPS coordinates and installing new buoys for the anchoring area while operating at limited space and capacity.

Only National Park Service staff, National Park Service concessionaires and contractors, U.S. Coast Guard, Government of the Virgin Islands emergency and law enforcement agencies, and other agency partners will be authorized during this temporary closure. Unauthorized vessels will be turned around and prevented from anchoring or mooring during this temporary closure.

Accordingly, the NPS determines publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register is unwarranted under 36 C.F.R. § 1.5. This is consistent with hundreds of earlier partial and temporary park closures or public use limitations, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and judicial adjudications. Mahoney v. Norton, No. 02-1715 (D.D.C. August 29, 2002), plaintiff’s emergency motion for injunction pending appeal denied Mahoney v. Norton, No. 02-5275 (D.C. Cir. September 9, 2002) (per curiam); Picciotto v.United States, No. 99-2113 (D.D.C. August 6, 1999); Picciotto v. United States, No. 94-1935 (D.D.C. September 9, 1994); Picciotto v. Lujan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C. May 30, 1990); Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87-3290 (D.D.C. January 26, 1988); Spiegel v. Babbitt, 855 F.Supp. 402 (D.D.C.1994), aff'd in part w/o op. 56 F.3d 1531 (D.C. Cir. 1995), reported in full, 1995 US App. Lexis15200 (D.C. Cir. May 31, 1995). Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.7, notice of this public use limitation will be made through media advisories, maps, and by posting at conspicuous locations in the affected park areas. Finally, pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request.

We encourage people who choose to visit Buck Island Reef National Monument during this pandemic to continue to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Territorial and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. Please remember to be reef responsible. #RecreateResponsibly.

We thank everyone for their understanding and patience during this period of uncertainty, and we appreciate your cooperation. For questions please contact Supervisory Park Ranger Gabriel Laurencin, [phone], x 234 or 247 or Park Superintendent Gregory Camacho at [phone], x 222.