Re: [CPEO-MEF] Partnerships to support intra-federal land transfers

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

(from <Gilsailer@aol.com>)

The future for DoD and others to get funds should be about the same for
certain things...the thing that has always puzzled me...while in and
since retired from civil service...there are several interagency
organizations that could or a need for an interagency focus to deal with
some of the cross cutting organizational and budget situations that do
not get properly supported depending on the Administration.

The reality is that some of the real issues I see before us are more
along this line  

1. there is no question that excess infrastructure exists. Putting off
closure -moth balling or appropriate relocation to improve mission does
not improve availability of funds nor does it get an unpleasant
expensive job CLEANING UP ONES MESS any faster or easier. 

2. all these tax cut people missed the real debate about the future
liability. putting that money into cleanup of fuds, brac but most
importantly current facility cleanups would improve and long term reduce
our tax liability of the future. 

3. the fact that DoD is disposing of and cleaning up property under fuds
or brac does not positively support the management and stewardship of
the on board assets  . many of the symptoms you raise are being
continually repeated even though they are problems today. Problem
appears to be ownership and operational control and budget
justification. 

4. many people are unrealistic about what can be done in the clean up
arena.  the focus on army navy air force misses the point... there is no
functional place that will have longterm responsibility for
identification,implementation or tracking....of all these agreements
whether serious or escapes as some contend. there is not cataloging or
inventory of these agreements, terms and liabilities that is feasible to
research, budget, or analyze the cross cutting or systemic issues
inherent in the data.  

5. The environmental deals being cooked are not as troubling as some of
the financial, leasing, or conditions subsequent where there is no
advocate group such as the environmental community. 

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
lsiegel@cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org

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