News Release

Virgin Islands National Park extends public comment period for proposed land exchange

Date: February 21, 2023
Contact: Nigel Fields, 340-626-2806

ST. JOHN, U.S. Virgin Islands—The National Park Service received a request to extend the public comment period for the Proposed Land Exchange with Territorial Government of the Virgin Islands to Enable School Construction. The final day to comment is now March 15.

There are four ways to comment. Interested parties may submit comments through March 15 via the following methods:

1. Directly into the agency’s planning website at ParkPlanning - Documents Open For Comment (nps.gov), or

2. Emailed to [e-mail], or
3. Mailed to Land Resources Program Office - National Park Service, 2975 Horseshoe Dr. S., Suite 800, Naples, Florida 34104, or
4. Dropped off in person at the park’s Visitor Center Mondays through Fridays between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm.

Local officials have expressed a long-standing need to construct the first public K-12 school on the island of St. John. The Territory determined that the Catherineberg Estate is the preferred site on St. John for a new public school, due to its central location along an existing roadway and its relatively gentle slopes, in exchange for Territory-owned Whistling Cay.

In December 2022, 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. Also last December, the NPS issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the potential land exchange. In response to a request from the Territory to conduct an EA, the FONSI outlines the land exchange and explains why the plan will have no significant effects on natural, cultural, or human environments. The FONSI includes a summary of public comments received during the public comment period that closed on Sept. 22, 2022, as well as a determination that the activity will not lead to an impairment of park resources and values.

The NPS will continue to support and coordinate with the Territory as requested on additional compliance elements as the land exchange proceeds and future design and development of the school progresses.
 

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