[CPEO-MEF] House panel warns Defense not to outsource environmental jobs

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE
May 2, 2003
House panel warns Defense not to outsource environmental jobs
By Lori Sharn, CongressDaily

A House Resources subcommittee voted Thursday to reauthorize a law
requiring wildlife conservation plans for military bases and
installations.

The Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans approved
a substitute amendment for the Sikes Act Reauthorization Act of 2003
(H.R. 1497) by a bipartisan voice vote. The panel made only a few small
changes to clarify provisions in the existing law, including a Sense of
Congress section warning the Defense Secretary against contracting out
wildlife biologist jobs.

The Department of Defense controls nearly 25 million acres of land
nationwide. Much of it is valuable habitat for fish and wildlife,
including nearly 300 threatened and endangered species.

The Sikes Act, as modified by Congress in 1997, requires the Defense
Department to complete comprehensive Integrated Natural Resource
Management Plans for nearly 400 military installations. In addition to
conserving resources for the future, the plans provide for public
recreation, including hunting and fishing. The law says that
professional trained natural resources personnel should prepare and
implement the plans, and carry out other provisions of the act.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0503/050203cdam2.htm

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