Pollution Prevention

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

POLLUTION PREVENTION

The Department of Defense has begun implementing the pollution
prevention and environmental reporting requirements for the federal
government contained in President Clinton's August 3, 1993
Executive Order. Executive Order 12856 ("Federal Compliance With
Right-To-Know Laws and Pollution Prevention Requirements")
established specific policies and milestones for all federal agencies.
The Defense Department has already submitted a strategic plan on
compliance with the Executive order to the Environmental Protection
Agency. It will also have to submit compliance plans for each of its
facilities located in the United States.

Recognizing that citizens have a vital role to play in the Federal
government's attempt to prevent pollution at its facilities, the
Executive Order recommended that each federal agency work with
the public. To further encourage a successful planning process,
eighteen environmental organizations, citizens groups, and trade
unions sent a letter to Defense Secretary Perry requesting "a
continuing dialogue" to discuss Defense Department plans to
implement the Executive Order. Informal discussions have already
begun between the authors of the letter and the Environmental
Security Office to arrange an initial meeting. For more information
contact Peter Tyler at Physicians for Social Responsibility 202/898-
0150.

This article is reprinted from the September, 1994 edition of the CITIZENS
REPORT ON THE MILITARY AND THE ENVIRONMENT. For more
information, or to be place on the mailing list, contact <lsiegel@igc.org>.

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