Threat To Massachusetts Military Reservation Cease-Fire Threat To Massachusetts Military Reservation Cease-Fire

["Richard Hugus" <rhugus@cape.com>]

The National Guard Bureau has been trying to resume training at the
Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) only three months after an EPA
cease fire order which brought it to a halt. Representatives from the
Pentagon who are either in front of or behind the Sente backlash against
EPA control of any kind over military training activities are claiming that
the cease fire poses an "imminent threat to national security"--a phrase
which no one has taken seriously since Nixon invoked it at Watergate.

In this case the threat to national security rests on the Massachusetts
Army National Guard's 379th Engineering Comany's loss of readiness status
if it is unable to use pyrotechnic devices during a four day training
session in August at the MMR.

A citizens' review team, already busy working on a study of contamination
at the MMR impact area, is now having its time taken up by a petition for
exceptions to the cease fire rather than with the business at hand--namely,
dealing with the effects of 60 years of bombardment and hazardous waste
disposal in the 2,200 acre impact area. National Guard personnel who have
been appointed to the review team are the same people now making strident
arguments for resumption of training and the importance of national
security. The Guard officers deny that they are in a conflict of interests.

EPA Region 1 Administrato John DeVillars is expected to rule on the NGB
petition within the next week to ten days. Messages of support for a
continued cease fire at the Massachusetts Military Reservation can be sent
to:

Mr. John DeVillars
U.S. Environmemntal Protection Agency
J.F.K. Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203-2211

Or e-mail to dolan.jane@epamail.epa.gov