COMITE PRO RESCATE Y DESARROLLO DE VIEQUES
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
P.O. BOX 1424 VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO 00765
Tel. (787) 741-0716 Fax (787) 741-0358
cels. 787 375-0525 787 206-0602
E mail: bieke@...
http://www.prorescatevieques.org

18 June, 2008

The Honorable Nick Rahall
Chairman, House Natural Resources Committee
US House of Representatives
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Chairman Rahall:

Warm greetings from the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. The purpose
of this letter is to express our strong opposition to H.R. 5864, the
Vieques Bioluminescent Bay Conservation Act of 2008, presented by
Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner, Luis Fortuño.

The federalization of the Bioluminescent Bay, or any other Vieques
resources, is inconsistent with the historic position of our
community to regain control over our lands usurped by and horribly
contaminated by the US Navy during the half century of military
control of 2/3 of Vieques territory.

Although we certainly would accept any help from governmental
agencies – federal or Puerto Rican – as well as private entities,
for the conservation, preservation and correct development of
projects related to Vieques bioluminescent bay, H.R. 5864
contradicts our community's determination to recuperate our lands
and resources from federal agencies.

We believe the Puerto Rican Natural Resources Department together
with academic and scientific sectors of our country, working with
community organizations interested in the protection and use of
Vieques cultural and natural resources, are more than capable to
this task. We reiterate our willingness to work with all agencies
and groups genuinely interested in Vieques issues, within a
framework defined by our community and supervised by Vieques and
Puerto Rican resources.

Thanks for your interest in Vieques and attention to our
communication.

Sincerely,


Nilda Medina
For the Committee for the Rescue
and Development of Vieques