THE U.S. House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Readiness has included a language in the Department of Defense appropriation bill for fiscal year 2003 that would exempt the military from some environmental laws, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. (See related story on page 7)
Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio said the bill would ultimately reverse the March 13 ruling of the U.S. District Court which halted the military exercises on Farallon de Medinilla.
He said the decision to exclude the U.S. military from existing environmental laws will improve the military’s readiness and make their training “more realistic.”
“This is in response, partially, to the court ordered injunction that would halt military training on Farallon de Medinilla. The legislation merely restores the legal and regulatory status quo as it existed for over 80 years,” Tenorio said in a statement to Variety.
The Center for Biological Diversity and more than 20 other leading conservation groups in the U.S. are opposing the legislation and have urged lawmakers to reject it.
The subcommittee tackled the Pentagon’s appropriation bill last Thursday. It now includes an amendment to the Migratory Bird Treaty. The bill would also make changes to the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Air Act.
Tenorio said that according to the Pentagon’s briefing papers, the Farallon de Medinilla is “vital” to Operation Enduring Freedom, America’s war against terrorism.
“FDM has become a necessity for training and readiness in the war against terrorism…. Closing FDM will mean that units (under) the 7th Fleet’s area of responsibility may not have (an) adequate training range before they are required to engage in combat operations in support to the war against terror,” Tenorio said, quoting the Pentagon’s briefing papers.
He said the islands’ Covenant with the U.S. granted the federal government a long term lease on Farallon de Medinilla, Tinian and part of the Tanapag Harbor.
On April 24, more than 20 leading conservation groups filed their opposition against the exemption sought by the Defense Department.
In a letter to the U.S. Congress, the groups urged the lawmakers to oppose the legislation, saying it contains “sweeping exemptions…(that) would likely result in irreparable harm to public health and the environment.”
