Press Releases

PLASKETT INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO PREVENT FURTHER GROWTH OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK ON ST. JOHN

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett shared the following statement on the introduction of legislation to prevent the expansion of the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, H.R. 3025:

“This past week, I introduced legislation to prohibit the net increase of federally owned land in the Virgin Islands National Park Service on St. John. The Virgin Islands National Park boundary encompasses nearly two-thirds of St. John. Within the Park boundary, there is both federally owned and privately-owned land. There is a finite amount of land for the residents of St. John, who are already confronting housing shortages. This legislation takes the necessary steps to prevent an increase of land owned by the Park. 

“This legislation prevents any net increase of federally owned land in the Park. Individuals and entities would still be able to donate or exchange land with the Park; but if the Virgin Islands National Park acquires any land, an equal acreage of land must be conveyed out of federal ownership through a sale, exchange, or donation. The legislation includes stringent guidelines to ensure the Park does not utilize bureaucratic processes to cause excessive delays. When the Park elects to sell federal land to avoid an increase in net acreage, it must offer the land for sale within a year at fair market value. Six months after the land is first offered for sale, if it is not under contract or sold, the price is reduced by 10% each month. If the Park participates in a land exchange and the value of the federal land is lower than the non-federal land, the Park Service must equalize the transfer with a cash payment.

“This legislation addresses the concerns I hear consistently from Virgin Islanders about the ever-expanding presence of the Park on St. John.  The Park has a responsibility as stewards and also as partners of the Virgin Islands; but that has not always been the case. It is not in the interest of the Virgin Islands, and is not the mandate of the Park, to be an ever expanding behemoth in a place with a finite area - effectively crowding out the native people in furtherance of neo-colonial Bourgeois wildlife ideals (albeit sometimes well intentioned).  As we look at the history and the future of the Virgin Islands National Park, our decisions must be intentional to support St. John, and the entire Virgin Islands - land, people, history, culture, and our future. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this legislation.”

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