[CPEO-MEF] Action Alert - Urgent

[Ericka Taylor <edt2@earthlink.net>]

Action Alert

Tell Congress Not to Exempt the Military from Environmental Laws!!

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is the worst polluter in the
nation, with over 27,000 toxic hotspots threatening the health of communities
around the country. Dozens of toxic substances have contaminated the drinking
water, groundwater, soil, and air on and near 8,500 military properties. Now,
DoD is requesting blanket exemptions from major environmental laws. The
Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and the laws that regulate toxic
cleanup and hazardous waste are among the laws at stake. This poses a
significant threat to wildlife and human health.

The DoD asked that its exemptions be included in the Defense Authorization Act
of 2003. When the House debated the bill, it decided to only include
exemptions from the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The Senate voted not to include any exemptions at all. One final hurdle
remains, however. Representatives and Senators meet to iron out the
differences between these bills during a joint conference committee. The
military has been working to persuade Congress members to put all of their
requested exemptions in this final version of the bill. It is up to community
members to counter the military?s request to be above the law. The ultimate
decision is expected to be made by four Congress members, two of whom we think
can be persuaded to do the right thing. The joint conference committee meets
the week of September 9.  

Join the Military Toxics Project in taking action and call to tell these key
Congress members to say NO to blanket military exemptions!

Date: Monday, September 9
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST 
(8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Central Time, 6 a.m. - 3 p.m. Mountain Time, 5 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Pacific Time)
Who to call:
Senator John Warner (R-VA) 
(202) 224-2023 
Representative Ike Skelton (D-MO) 
(202) 225-2876 

Tell Sen. Warner and Rep. Skelton not to put the military above the law at the
expense of the environment and human health. 


Ericka Taylor
National Organizer
Military Toxics Project
ph: 901-276-4842
fx: 901-726-0806
National office:
ph: 207-783-5091
fx: 207-783-5096
www.miltoxproj.org

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