GOVERNORS' MUNITIONS POLICY

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

From: Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>

WESTERN GOVERNORS WANT STRONG MUNITIONS RULES
Last year, as EPA revised its proposed rule on Military Munitions, the 
only other constituency "at the table" was the Department of Defense. 
This year, the completion of a final rule that is protective of the 
public health and safety, as well as the natural environment, depends 
heavily on the involvement of other federal agencies, such as the 
Department of Interior, and the elevation of the issue within state 
governments.
The states, at the highest level, are now paying close attention. On 
June 24, the Western Governors adopted a resolution (#96-107) on 
"Ordnance and Explosive Waste Regulatory Framework." The following is 
the policy statement - the recommendations - from that resolution.
Lenny Siegel
 
Governors' Policy Statement
1. Western Governors support the safe and rapid transfer to civilian 
use of cleaned-up surplus federal property which has been contaminated 
by unexploded ordnance.
2. Western Governors believe that local citizens, in conjunction with 
local and state governments, should be actively involved in 
establishing the future uses of the federal surplus property and that 
these future uses should act as a guide to the cleanup process.
3. Western Governors believe that local citizens should be actively 
involved in setting cleanup priorities and in the selection of cleanup 
remedies for the remediation of federal lands contaminated by 
unexploded ordnance.
4. Western Governors believe that EPA's munitions rules and DoD's range 
rules should not override, sunset or preempt the authority of states to 
establish environmental standards that address state-specific 
situations or natural conditions. Furthermore, DoD rules should not 
weaken the ability of states to enact or enforce cleanup requirements 
for munitions-related environmental problems.
5. Western Governors believe that any preemption of state authorities 
contradicts the letter and intent of the Federal Facilities Compliance 
Act or 1992 which clearly expressed a mandate that the military be 
fully accountable to EPA and the states in its management and cleanup 
of waste munitions. These range regulations should not be used by DoD 
to relieve itself of this accountability.
6. Western Governors support the collaboration of local, state, tribal 
and federal governments and other key stakeholders in the development 
of comprehensive munitions rules for unexploded ordnance and munitions 
waste and the hazardous substances and hazardous waste associated with 
the manufacture, use, storage, handling and destruction of munitions 
which protects safety, health and the environment.