[CPEO-MEF] DuBois Statement

[Steve@miltoxproj.org]

>>From the Friday, Marcy 1 Energy and Environment Daily:

APPROPRIATIONS/DEFENSE 
Environmental cleanup important to military success, witness says 

Witnesses at a hearing on military installations and environmental 
management briefly addressed the Defense Department's environmental 
budget before the Senate Armed Services Readiness and Management Support 
Subcommittee on Thursday. 

Installation and environmental management officials from several 
military branches testified, but the discussion mainly focused on 
military construction and housing issues. 

However, Raymond DuBois Jr., deputy undersecretary of defense for 
installations and environment, said four main principles make up DOD's 
position on environmental management. DOD believes that the "environment 
is a fundamental component of our national power," "environmental 
stewardship is a component of good business management," "environmental 
stewardship reflects the high ethical standards of our soldiers, 
sailors, marines and airmen" and completing projects "quickly, 
effectively and safely to protect human health and the environment from 
the results of past contamination is important both at our active and 
[Base Realignment and Closure] installations, as well as formerly used 
defense sites and surrounding communities." 

DuBois pointed out that live training operations are needed for defense 
purposes and that environmental problems left untreated can lead to 
problems that could affect the training. 

"Cleaning up past contamination is important to sustain the land we hold 
in the public trust," he said. 

DOD requested $3.8 billion for its environmental programs, which include 
environmental restoration, compliance conservation and pollution 
prevention. Environmental restoration funds take care of past 
contamination on current or previous DOD properties. Compliance programs 
deal with ongoing permitting, licensing and other environmental law 
requirements, and conservation money protects resources for future use, 
according to DOD. The Base Realignment and Closure program also falls 
under environmental programs. 

DOD requested close to $1.3 billion for environmental restoration 
programs, a slight increase from FY '02. The $1.6 billion environmental 
compliance request allows DOD to "achieve full compliance with existing 
laws and regulations," according to the summary. The $40 million 
increase stems from meeting overseas standards and some other 
requirements. -- Suzanne Struglinski 

Steve Taylor
National Organizer
Military Toxics Project
(207) 783-5091 (phone)
(207) 783-5096 (fax)
P.O. Box 558
Lewiston, ME  04243-0558