[BCNnet] Migratory Endangered Species on Military Bases

[Evan WW Craig]

I discussed this with our US Congressman Mark Kirk, who, besides being a
military aviator himself, has been endorsed by the Sierra Club for his
willingness to buck his (R) party on environmental votes.

He believes that the exemption to the migratory bird act needs to be extended
to the military, just as is to commercial aviation, only sufficient to allow
our military bases to support their intended use. He cites the fact that
encroaching urban development has concentrated species on military bases as
refuges. We proposed that the military take responsibility then to acquire
buffer zones around each base. He supports this, but suspects cities and
states will oppose an anticipated loss of tax base. This of course ignores
the benefits of open space to a community. 

The reality here is that we're not going to be able to just say no to the
military at this moment in US history. We need to look for other ways to
negotiate this.

---
Evan Craig
Chair, Woods & Wetlands Group of Sierra Club
http://illinois.sierraclub.org/w&w
847-680-6437
... Work to Live, Live to Ride, Ride to Work!

On Wed, 23 Oct 2002, BERRY, Kristen America McClure wrote:

All:
 
Please allow me to apologize for cross postings.  The article below was
printed in today's Washington Post.
 
To take action on this and other important conservation issues before the
United States Congress go to Audubon's take action site today!
 
http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/
<http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/> 
 
As always if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
 
kb
 
washingtonpost.com 
Bird Nests and Bomb Ranges 
Hill Nears Pact to Exempt Pentagon from Law Protecting Species 
By Eric Pianin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 23, 2002; Page A09 
House and Senate negotiators have tentatively agreed to exempt the Defense
Department from an international law designed to protect more than 850
species of migratory birds, in response to Bush administration complaints
that such treaties seriously hamper military training and bombing exercises.
The decision, disclosed yesterday by lawmakers and environmental groups,
could effectively allow the incidental bombing of habitats of hundreds of
thousands of migratory birds, including a number of endangered species, that
fly over 25 million acres of military-controlled land.
The administration earlier this year sought exemptions from numerous
environmental laws dealing with endangered species, marine mammals,
migratory birds, clean air and hazardous waste cleanup. The restrictions,
officials said, were impeding military readiness and training in the wake of
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Critics, including environmental
groups, some governors and state attorneys general, said the administration
was using the terrorist attacks as an excuse to undermine important
environmental protections. 
As a compromise, Senate and House conferees drafted a version of the fiscal
2003 defense authorization bill granting the military an exemption from the
1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which sets forth U.S. obligations under four
treaties to protect birds and guide conservation management with the
governments of Canada, Mexico, Japan and Russia. While the exemption would
be permanent, the Defense Department would be given a year to identify ways
to minimize the adverse impact of military training activities on migratory
birds.
Some lawmakers and environmentalists said Congress was bowing to
administration pressure to undermine the nation's oldest conservation law.
"Exempting our military from the MBTA drops a bomb domestically and
internationally as it endangers our wildlife heritage and compromises our
international treaty obligations," said Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (W.Va.), the
ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, which oversees the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
But the conference report draft says the proposed military exemption is
"entirely consistent with the underlying terms of all treaty obligations of
the United States." 
Raymond F. DuBois, deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and
environment, said the exemption was made necessary last April after a
federal judge halted bombing exercises on Farallon de Medinilla, a western
Pacific island where migratory birds were being killed.
"Solely a military training range for the past 26 years, FDM provides vital
training for frontline units involved in Operation Enduring Freedom," DuBois
said. "The provision has no effect on our obligation to assess the
environmental impact of our actions or our obligation under the Endangered
Species Act not to jeopardize endangered species."
Environmental groups including Audubon, the Sierra Club, the American Bird
Conservancy and the Endangered Species Coalition, said in a joint statement:
"Our existing laws already provide for the achievement of military readiness
while maintaining environmental protections."
Senate Armed Services Committee aides cautioned yesterday that lawmakers
were still working on portions of the conference report and the final
version may change. Moreover, congressional leaders have yet to decide
whether to seek final action on the defense authorization bill when Congress
returns for a postelection session.
(c) 2002 The Washington Post Company 
 
 
Kristen Berry
Audubon
1150 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20036
 
Office 202-861-2242
Cell    202-549-1032
Fax    202-861-4290
 
Know what the salmon said when he swam into the concrete?  Dam!