[CPEO-MEF] Pentagon seeks waivers

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Pentagon Is Asking Congress to Loosen Environmental Laws

By MICHAEL JANOFSKY
New York Times
May 11, 2005

WASHINGTON, May 10 - After three unsuccessful tries, the Pentagon is 
asking Congress again this year to loosen major environmental laws to 
allow military training exercises around the country to proceed unimpeded.

Military officials say the requested changes, which could be approved 
this week as part of the defense authorization bill for 2006, are 
essential to preserve the quality of training and to avoid lawsuits over 
possible violations of statutes that govern air, water and waste.

With more than 100,000 American military personnel in Iraq, training 
issues have taken on a heightened sense of urgency, giving the request a 
better chance of passing this year despite opposition from environmental 
advocacy groups and state and local governments.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/politics/11enviro.html?

See also

Pentagon Seeks Waivers On Environmental Rules
Defense Dept. Cites National Security Issues

By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post
May 11, 2005

Defense Department officials are hoping to use an upcoming defense 
authorization bill to expand the military's exemptions from several 
environmental and public health regulations, arguing that the 
restrictions infringe on national security.

The Pentagon has drafted provisions that would free it from specified 
laws on air pollution and hazardous waste, provisions the House and 
Senate Armed Services committees could take up this week as part of 
broader legislation giving the military spending authority.

Defense Department spokesman Glenn Flood emphasized that "this is not 
the first time" the military has sought waivers from long-standing 
environmental rules.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/10/AR2005051001567.html?sub=AR

--
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
http://www.cpeo.org



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