[CPEO-MEF] Pentagon Seeks Release From Environment Laws

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Pentagon Seeks Release From Environment Laws 
Military Says Training, Readiness Inhibited 

By Eric Pianin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 30, 2002; Page A08 

The Defense Department is pressing Congress for exemptions from many of 
the nation's most important environmental laws, arguing that the 
restrictions seriously hamper military readiness and training after the 
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

If the Pentagon prevails, many training and bombing exercises would be 
exempt from an array of laws governing endangered species, marine 
mammals, migratory birds, clean air and hazardous-waste cleanup.

A House Armed Services subcommittee on military readiness last week 
adopted two of the proposed exemptions, relating to endangered species 
and migratory birds, as part of a 2003 defense authorization bill. The 
full committee is likely to consider other changes when it begins action 
on the bill Wednesday, according to environmental groups and 
congressional sources.

Defense Department officials said yesterday the environmental laws have 
greatly inhibited training at military bases and bombing ranges and that 
the process for obtaining presidential exemptions is too slow and 
cumbersome for a government that is bracing for the possibility of 
renewed terrorist attacks.

This article can be viewed in its entirety at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5082-2002Apr29.html

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