[CPEO-MEF] PEER release on draft DOD directive

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 14, 2004

PENTAGON TO JETTISON ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
New Policy Drops Public Health, Cleanup and Resource Conservation Duties 

Washington, DC - The Pentagon is moving to sharply reduce its
environmental duties, according to a draft directive released today by
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The proposed
policy excludes anti-pollution work that does not directly "sustain the
national defense mission."

This new "Department of Defense Directive" would replace a Clinton-era
directive on "Environmental Security." The new directive trims a listing
of Pentagon policy elements by eliminating provisions for -

* "Reducing risk to human health and the environment by identifying,
evaluating, and where necessary, remediating contamination resulting
from past DoD activities";
* Protecting, preserving, and, when required, restoring, and enhancing
the quality of the environment"; and
* Conserving, and restoring where necessary, the natural and cultural
heritage represented on DoD installations within the United States."


"The Pentagon is transforming itself into an entity concerned only about
its own logistics and facility management ? and the public be damned,"
stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, pointing to the Pentagon's
recent efforts to exempt itself from an array of environmental laws.
"Under this new policy, who will protect America's waters, air and soil
from the Pentagon?" 

The new policy would also significantly cut Pentagon compliance with
anti-pollution rules by dropping requirements that it obey "regulations,
Executive orders, binding international agreements" and other federal
?environmental, safety, occupational health, explosives safety, fire and
emergency services, and pest management policies." In its place, the
Pentagon would pledge to only abide by ?applicable law and DoD policy."

In stripping away promises to improve or protect the environment, the
new Directive instead says that the Pentagon "will evaluate all
activities?and make prudent investments in initiatives that support
mission accomplishment, enhance readiness, reduce future funding needs,
prevent pollution, ensure cost effective compliance, and maximize the
existing resource capability."

"The Pentagon is preparing this self-serving shift without public debate
or Congressional review," added Ruch. "Under the new Directive, the
Pentagon answers only to itself."

Department of Defense Directives define the agency's mission and
responsibilities. By its terms, this Directive covers all "DoD
operations, activities, and installations worldwide, including
Government-owned/contractor-operated facilities."

###

For the original press release and links to related documents, go to
http://www.peer.org/press/544.html

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
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