[CPEO-MEF] Reps. Blumenauer & Riley Introduce UXO Legislation

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>]

For Immediate Release			        Contact: Tom Markgraf 503.232-8086


Congressmen Blumenauer and Riley
Introduce Unexploded Ordnance Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Congressman
Bob Riley (R-AL) introduced legislation today that lays out policy
guidelines for the government’s cleanup of unexploded ordnance (UXO).
Twenty-five million acres are known to be contaminated in America, but
this figure could be much larger since there is no accurate inventory of
the lands that are littered with the bombs, shells and gas canisters that
did not go off as intended.

According to Blumenauer, “Unexploded ordnance is a serious problem today.
Across America, we are finding more and more lost and forgotten munitions,
shells that simply missed their mark, and some that were intentionally buried
in a feeble disposal attempt.   Human activity is occurring on contaminated
sites as our neighborhoods grow and sprawl.  At the same time, the natural
rhythms of nature – flooding, earthquakes, and landslides – is exposing more
of these dangers.  ”

Riley (R-AL) said,  "The government made this mess, and it's the government's
responsibility to clean it up. As time goes by, individual responsibly for
these areas changes hands each generation. Institutional knowledge is lost and
responsibility and accountability is passed down the line, and the only 
constant
authority in this situation is the government. I sincerely believe this 
bill would
help the government stay abreast of its responsibility and help ensure that 
all
unexploded ordinances are discovered and destroyed."

It is difficult to find a congressional district without UXO.  In the 
1980s, three
boys in San Diego found a shell near their subdivision that blew up and 
killed two
of them.  The unexploded shell is believed to have been left over from 
practice
firings during WWII.  Recently in suburban Washington, D.C. on what is now the
campus of American University, canisters of leaking poison gas were discovered
next to a children’s day care.  The area had been a test site for chemical 
weapons
development during World War I.  The leaking poison was buried and forgotten.

This legislation requires the Department of Defense to carry out ordnance 
cleanup
with these provisions:

*  Establishes a single point of contact for policy and budgeting issues
    regarding former military ranges with the Department of Defense.

*  Requires an inventory of explosive risk sites at former military ranges.
    These include formerly used defense sites (FUDS) and bases closed as 
part of
    the Base Realignment and Closure process.  The bill also establishes 
criteria
    for site prioritization among UXO sites.

*  Creates a separate DOD account for removal and cleanup of abandoned 
military
    munitions.  The bill requires an account for UXO cleanup that is 
separate from
    other environmental cleanup.

*  Requires enhanced security measures at former military ranges and public 
awareness
    efforts regarding dangers associated with such ranges.

*  Establishes independent oversight panel.  Members shall include the 
National
    Academy of Sciences, a non-governmental organization with expertise in 
UXO, the
    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a representative of the states.

Blumenauer and Riley are joined by a growing list of bipartisan supporters, 
several
of whom are Members of the House Armed Services Committee which is 
currently writing
the FY02 defense authorization.  Riley is Vice-Chair of the Readiness 
Subcommittee,
which has jurisdiction over environmental issues including UXO.

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Aimee R. Houghton
Associate Director, CPEO
122 C Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC  20001-2109
tel: 202-662-1888; fax: 202-628-1825
Email: aimeeh@cpeo.org
www.cpeo.org
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