[CPEO-MEF] Army fence outlined

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Alaska
ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS
Army fence outlined
BASE: Military says it's ready to talk over plans in public meetings.
By Doug O'Harra
Published: August 12, 2003

The U.S. Army has published plans to fence 34 miles of Fort Richardson's
boundaries inside Anchorage, adding some openings for wildlife and
putting in gates that could be unlocked for special events.

But the new fence -- aimed at keeping people off the base during
training, the Army says -- would sometimes hug private property and end
casual access by dog walkers, hikers, bikers and skiers in the foothills
and forest east of Muldoon and near some Eagle River neighborhoods.

That prospect still upsets many residents, who say the proposed 8-foot
chain-link fence will hurt property values while eliminating reasonable
public access to woods and trails when training isn't occurring, said
Bill Wielechowski, president of Northeast Community Council.

Many residents are also frustrated and angry with what they see as a
lack of communication by military and some public officials, he added.

An Anchorage Assembly resolution urging the Army to meet with the
community councils and directing the mayor's office to help was vetoed
by former Mayor George Wuerch on his last day in office, June 30.

Local state representatives have been helping, Wielechowski said, but
requests for meetings with the military and calls for help from Alaska's
two U.S. senators have gone unanswered.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.adn.com/front/story/3653010p-3683837c.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CPEO: A DECADE OF SUCCESS.  Your generous support will ensure that our 
important work on military and environmental issues will continue.  
Please consider one of our donation options.  Thank you.
http://www.groundspring.org/donate/index.cfm?ID=2086-0|721-0