[CPEO-MEF] Move aims at easing fort's water burden

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Arizona
THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
Move aims at easing fort's water burden
The amendment says Fort Huachuca would not be held liable for civilian
water use in Sierra Vista. Environmentalists fear the measure would harm
the San Pedro River.
BILLY HOUSE
May 16, 2003

WASHINGTON - A U.S. House committee has ratified an amendment to absolve
Fort Huachuca of responsibility for the environmental impacts of
off-base civilian water use as part of its passage of a $400.5 billion
defense spending plan for 2004.

Some environmentalists are warning that the measure will significantly
harm the San Pedro River, the last of the undammed, free-flowing rivers
in Arizona.

The defense bill, and the attached Fort Huachuca language introduced by
Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., a member of the Resources Committee, will go
to a full House floor vote as early as next week. The amendment was
passed by the Armed Services Committee late Wednesday.

"We're crushed," Robin Silver, conservation chair of the Center for
Biological Diversity, said yesterday of the House Armed Services
Committee action. "Rep. Renzi attaches a rider to a defense readiness
bill, and the San Pedro is now his victim."

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/5_16_03san_pedro.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~