http://www.commondreams.org/scriptfiles/news2003/1107-07.htm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 7, 2003
4:11 PM
CONTACT: Natural Resources
Defense Council
http://www.nrdc.org/
Karen Wayland 202-513-6241
Elliott Negin 202-289-2405
House
Exempts Department of Defense From Key Environmental Laws,
Threatening Wildlife
WASHINGTON - November 7 - Statement by Karen Wayland,
Acting Legislative Director, NRDC
Tucked away in the
defense authorization bill passed this morning
by the House of Representatives were Bush administration-sponsored
provisions exempting the Defense Department from complying with
the
Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Below is a statement by Karen Wayland, acting legislative
director for NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council).
"The Pentagon
is trying to exploit the unfortunate events
of the past two years by asking us to sacrifice our natural
heritage under the guise of national security. The United
States has the most powerful military in the world, and
the Pentagon built that fighting force while complying
with our environmental laws.
"Exempting the
Pentagon from these laws will allow the
military to threaten whales, dolphins and other marine
mammals with sonar and underwater explosives, and destroy
the habitat of the endangered birds and mammals that
live on the 25 million acres it controls across the
country -- with next to no environmental review.
"An overwhelming
majority of Americans believe the
Pentagon should comply with our environmental laws.
No government agency should be above the law,
especially those that protect America's air and water,
public health, and endangered wildlife."
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