WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has completed an environmental assessment of three possible sites for a future national cemetery in south Florida and has identified its primary choice.
A Palm BeachCounty site of 313 acres within five miles of Florida’s Turnpike and Interstate 95 interchanges was picked as the "preferred" site. The location is in a no-growth zone with compatible adjacent land uses and low residential density.
VA's finding that development of the cemetery will have no significant adverse impact on the environment, and publication of a report on the environmental assessment, mark the beginning of a 30-day public comment period. After considering the comments, VA will make a final decision on the site before purchasing the land.
"For many years South Florida has been on VA's priority list for building a much needed national cemetery to serve more than 350,000 veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi.
VA's Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Robin L. Higgins was, until earlier this year, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.
"I'm well aware that having a new cemetery in southern Florida has been an important goal for veterans for several years,” she said. “A new cemetery will honor our nation's promise of a hallowed resting place for those who served."
Funds to purchase the land were provided in the fiscal 2001 federal budget. VA's recently approved budget for 2002 included funds for design. Additional funding will be required for construction.
Two VA studies since 1987 identified South Florida among the country's areas with a large number of veterans not served by a national or state veterans' cemetery.
Thirteen potential sites were evaluated. Ten were eliminated from further consideration because they were not large enough, were too far from population centers or highway access, or were no longer available.
The three remaining sites -- all in Palm BeachCounty -- met most of VA's criteria in the environmental assessment, which included a detailed study of each site and the effects of a new cemetery upon the community. The preferred site had the highest number of positive characteristics, including good access to highways, highest capacity for casketed gravesites and mature vegetation.
If a site is acquired early in 2002, first burials could take place in 2004 under a "fast-track" system. This system allows burials before the entire cemetery is completed. Another year would be required to build the cemetery's permanent buildings and roadways. VA will plan for more than 120,000 burial sites providing gravesites until 2040. VA expects that approximately half of the interments will be cremations.
The environmental assessment report on the three sites may be viewed at the Palm BeachCounty main library or the county planning department, or on the Internet at ftp://ftp.va.gov/ncacm/SoFlorida/. Comments and requests for copies of the report should be directed to: Michael Elliott (401B), Office of Construction Management, National Cemetery Administration, 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.20420.
Presently, VA's Florida national cemeteries with space remaining for full-casket burials are in the central part of the state at Bushnell and in the panhandle at Pensacola. The national cemetery at Bay Pines accommodates cremation burials.
Nationwide, VA operates 120 national cemeteries. All veterans with discharges other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in VA national cemeteries. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from a VA web site on the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov , at VA regional offices or toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.
