Re: [CPEO-MEF] PEER release on draft DOD directive

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>]

For those of you who are having trouble with the links at the bottom of
this posting, please cut and paste them into your browser--they should
work just fine.  The Directive referred to in the PEER press release is:
Department if Defense Directive Number 4715.1A.  As far as I can tell it
is still considered a draft so it may not yet be searchable on DOD's
website.

Aimee

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004, Lenny Siegel wrote:

> 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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> Military@list.cpeo.org
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