TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HOSTS PUBLIC FORUMS ON PROPOSED RANGE RULE

 The Department of Defense is hosting a series of public forums on its
proposed Range Rule, beginning in late October. The first such public
forum is scheduled for Oct. 22 in Jacksonville, Fla., followed by
similar sessions Oct. 29 in Baltimore, Md.; Nov. 5 in Kansas City, Mo.;
and Dec. 10 in Reno, Nev.

 The Department is seeking to issue a rule that will give the military
services a consistent way to manage public safety and environmental
efforts at former military ranges. The rule also spells out ways to
involve the public in the Department's actions at these ranges. Public
comments taken at the public information forums will help the Department
of Defense develop its final rule. The public forums will also provide
an opportunity to review and comment on the scope of a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to be prepared in conjunction with
the rule's final development. The PEIS will examine the potential
environmental impacts of other alternatives and serve as an
informational tool to help decision makers assess the Range Rule.

 "Years of day-to-day experience in managing environmental programs have
taught us many valuable lessons. One of the most important is that
public involvement is key to our overall success," said Sherri Goodman,
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security.

 Many of the affected ranges are in areas transferred from Defense
Department control in the past. Others are closed ranges on active
military bases, or ranges on bases selected for realignment or
closure. The unexploded bombs and shells that may be found on these
ranges is a key issue as property is transferred from military to
civilian use. The proposed rule outlines actions the Defense Department
may take at former ranges to protect the public and the environment.

 The public forums to take comments on the proposal will each begin at 3
p.m. At that time, the public will be able to register, visit exhibit
areas, and meet with members of the Defense Department's Range Rule team
in the exhibit areas. There will also be a briefing for the press and
public officials earlier in the day, and at 7:30 p.m. the responsible
military officials will welcome the public and briefly explain DoD's
Range Rule initiative. This will be followed by a brief presentation on
the proposed rule by the leader of the team responsible for its
development. A question and answer period will follow. Throughout the
day, the public's comments and concerns will be made part of the public
record.

 In addition to the public meetings, the Department of Defense has set
up a Range Rule Information Center. The public may obtain information
about or copies of the rule by phoning 1-888-541-1081 or 1-800-870-6557
for the the hearing impaired. There is also a toll-free fax number,
1-800-870-6547, and an electronic mail address, fbarrule@b-r.com. 
Comments on the rule may mailed to: DOD RANGE RULE, PO BOX 4137,
GAITHERSBURG MD 20885-4137. Comments also may be be e-mailed (ASCII
files or Microsoft Word files only) or faxed. The public can also
access the proposed rule and related information via a site on the
Internet's World-Wide Web at http://www.acq.osd.mil/ens/ and clicking
on the link words "Munitions Range Rule."

Lenny Siegel
Director, SFSU CAREER/PRO (and Pacific Studies Center)
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@igc.org