Narragansett Indian Tribe seeks surplus R.I. Navy property Jun 09, 2009 Richard Salit The Narragansett Indian Tribe has formally asked to acquire -- for free -- close to 400 acres of surplus Navy land on Aquidneck Island that local communities have spent years planning to redevelop. The Bureau of Indians Affairs , on behalf of the Narragansetts, submitted an application dated June 3 that requests the transfer of the Rhode Island property as part of the federal Base Realignment and Closure initiative, documents confirm. The move had been anticipated ever since the bureau won a 60-day extension of the deadline for federal agencies to exercise their legal right to have a first option on the surplus military properties. The bureau had until Friday to submit its application.
"They've asked for all of the property," said Randall Trickey, an assistant secretary for the bureau. But he emphasized the preliminary nature of the proposal, saying, "We've just started this process." Trickey said that the tribe's use of the property would be "consistent with what the local community was also considering for it. It's not going to be in conflict with the character of the property or the community." A master plan for the west side of Aquidneck Island envisions the Navy land being redeveloped for maritime business development at Melville, a waterfront park with a fishing pier, intermodal transportation including rail service, a bike path and walking trails. The Aquidneck Island Planning Commission spearheaded the planning efforts for the West Side and now represents the communities of Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth with regard to the surplus Navy properties. Tina Dolen, executive director of the commission, said she was not concerned about the Narragansett's application because the process for disposing the Navy properties is quite lengthy. She also noted that the requirements for federal agencies to intervene are rather onerous. The properties must be accepted in as-is condition and many of the Aquidneck Island parcels are contaminated. Also, the Defense Department is requiring payment equal to fair market value. The bureau, however, is requesting the property for free under the federal Indian Self-Determination Act. "The transfer is requested as a public benefit conveyance with an exception to the 100 percent fair market value reimbursement requirement," the cover form for the application reads. "The purpose of the acquisition will be to promote and enhance the tribe's self-determination, economic development, natural resources development and protection and related social services programs." Dolen expects a decision on the tribe's request to be made in about one month. http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/06/narragansett-in-1.html |
