Re: [CPEO-MEF] Environmental concerns hinder digging training, Marines assert

[petestrauss1@attbi.com]

This debate has gotten way out of hand.  If the military can find places to
practice artillery firing, set up small arms firing ranges,  set up fire
training exercises, fly supersonic jets over large areas of land, drop test
bombs, and do the myriad of practices that have contaminated almost every
military base, then of course it can find places for Marines and other armed
forces to dig fox holes.

I suggest that the first place to look is on the base golf course.  After
years of pesticide and herbicide use, there are very few endangered species
that dwell there.

Happy holidays,

Peter Strauss
----- Original Message -----
From: "CPEO Moderator" <cpeo@cpeo.org>
To: <cpeo-military@igc.topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2002 8:58 AM
Subject: RE: [CPEO-MEF] Environmental concerns hinder digging training,
Marines assert


> [The following was posted by Jim Spagnole <JSpagnol@CALEPA.ca.gov>]
>
>
> Bravo! A common sense answer based on real experience!!!
>
> As a former Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks at Interior
> I can attest to the comments on how
> it is to work around these ESA implementations.  Sometimes it gets
> ridiculous, particularly when developers
> in close proximity to military sites for years ignored the ESA and
> muscled their way with County planners
> resulting in a system of carte blanche with regard taking steps during
> development to maintain habitat
> within their developments.  Oh no, they simply built right to the edge
> of the base and now we are bearing
> the fruit of that activity - reduced readiness, impractical training
> restrictions, and unrealistic preparation of
> our military forces which may well put their lives in danger.
>
> Again, bravo for a "real" view of the world...
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CPEO Moderator [mailto:cpeo@cpeo.org]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2002 3:52 AM
> To: cpeo-military@igc.topica.com
> Subject: Re: [CPEO-MEF] Environmental concerns hinder digging training,
> Marines assert
>
>
> The following is an anonymous response.
> ______________________
>
> Having managed various projects for the Navy and Marines at Camp
> Pendleton
> for several years, I can tell your readers that the dig restrictions are
>
> real. They are not because of caribou in Southern California (?), and
> they
> are not because of any widespread contamination. Campen is home to over
> 20
> federally and state listed species, so most of the base is sensitive
> habitat
> for these species. These restrictions are merely the result of managing
> sensitive habitat in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. Believe
>
> it
> or not, these restrictions also apply to the Navy/Marine Corps' efforts
> to
> cleanup contaminated sites. Cleanup projects must consider and include
> habitat restoration and mitigation, as necessary. For folks that don't
> believe these restrictions exist, they simply don't have a practical
> understanding of managing sensitive habitat at this scale. There is no
> conspiracy here. Ask a young Marine who has trained at Campen, and
> you'll
> learn that each Marine carries a special, waterproof handbook informing
> them
> what to do and what not to do specifically because of the many natural
> and
> cultural resources found at Campen. The digging restriction is one of
> many,
> and the Marines work in close partnership with the Fish and Wildlife
> Service
> to implement them. I hope this clarifies this issue for some of your
> readers.
>
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