[CPEO-MEF] House panel OKs Pentagon exemption from wildlife laws

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CHICAGO TRIBUNE
House panel OKs Pentagon exemption from wildlife laws
By Michael Kilian
Washington Bureau
May 15, 2003

WASHINGTON -- In largely party-line votes, the Republican-controlled
House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday night approved a package of
measures that essentially would exempt the Defense Department from
provisions of the Endangered Species and Marine Mammal Protection Acts
and other environmental laws.

Hotly contested by environmentalists but promoted by supporters as
necessary for "military readiness," the Defense Department exemption
would apply to all military facilities, including golf courses,
irrigated gardens and swimming pools.

In its final form the measure also gave the interior secretary
discretionary power to exempt all other federal departments and agencies
from Endangered Species Act provisions protecting critical wildlife
habitats.

The exemptions were written into this year's defense authorization bill,
which now goes to the House floor for a final vote.

Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) invoked the needs of U.S.
troops in asking for the changes in the bill.

"We have asked a lot of our men and women in uniform, and they have
always delivered with competence, bravery and dedication," he said. "By
providing the [Defense] Department more flexibility in the management of
civilian personnel, environmental compliance and acquisition policy, we
are ensuring that the bureaucratic processes can keep up with the
fast-changing pace of innovation on the battlefield."

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