News of the Arroyo
Title: | Pentagon's exemption a threat to SoCal water? |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2004-04-22 |
Summary: | April 22, 2004 - A proposal to exempt the Department of Defense from responsiblity for the use and cleanup of hazardous chemicals on military bases came under fire from public agencies in congressional hearings. |
Author: | Lisa Friedman, Washington Bureau |
Publication: | Pasadena Star News |
Content: | Public agencies argue their case in Congress State and federal authorities would be helpless to prevent more perchlorate contamination in Southern California drinking water if Congress grants the Pentagon broad new environmental exemptions, a coalition of public water agencies warned Wednesday. The Department of Defense, arguing that its ability to train soldiers for war is at stake, is seeking leeway from the Clean Air Act and from hazardous waste laws at thousands of firing and bombing ranges nationwide. But in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittees on the environment and toxic substances, Ron Gastelum, president of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and other water regulators called the proposal too broad. \"We believe our armed forces should be able to conduct weapons training, yet still clean up hazardous waste on its ranges that threaten sources of drinking water,\' Gastelum said. Southern California congressional Democrats also slammed the proposal, saying the Pentagon already has a poor record of cleaning up contamination. Rep. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte, noted that at least 300 groundwater wells in Southern California have been shut down due to perchlorate contamination. The legislation, she said, could make it more difficult for local governments to obtain reimbursements either from the Pentagon or local defense contractors. \"My community faces, over the next 15 years, at least the cost of $200 million. The devastation is largely the result of Department of Defense activities,\' Solis said, noting that Baldwin Park has had to build a perchlorate treatment facility and that another one is soon to follow in Azusa. \"The cost of these exemptions could be overwhelming, both economically and to public health.\' Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, whose district includes Vandenberg Air Force Base and Naval Base Ventura County, said she was sensitive to the military\'s needs, but added, \"As a public health nurse, I find the Pentagon\'s request for sweeping exemptions from environmental laws very troubling.\' But most Republicans on the committee, which includes GOP Reps. Christopher Cox of Huntington Beach and Darrell Issa of Vista, said the military must not allow burdensome regulations to impair its ability to train soldiers under realistic conditions. \"We can\'t train our troops in a video arcade. They need dirt under their boots,\' said Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Texas. The Pentagon wants to change the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act so that the term \"solid waste\' no longer includes explosives, munitions or residue from explosions. It also wants explosives and munitions to be exempted from the definition of \"releases\' in the Superfund Law. Finally, it wants Congress to change the Clean Air Act so any pollution from training exercises would not count for three years in states\' plans for meeting federal air quality requirements. \"In no way, shape or form does the Department of Defense want to exempt itself from issues of public health,\' Deputy Undersecretary for Installations and Environment Raymond DuBois said. Democrats challenged DuBois and other Pentagon officials to cite examples in which complying with the Clean Air Act and hazardous waste laws has hampered military readiness. Defense officials said they are working to head off future lawsuits they said may constrain training. In written testimony to the committee, DuBois argued the proposal would in no way affect the Pentagon\'s financial liability for perchlorate contamination or its cleanup responsibilities. And, he insisted, the proposed legislation also would not exempt either closed ranges or defense contractors from cleanup responsibilities. Gastelum said he found the Pentagon assurances encouraging, but wanted to see the legislation changed to specifically spell out who is and who is not exempt. The current proposal is too vague and could be interpreted as exempting contractors from responsibility leaving Southern California taxpayers to foot the bill for cleanup, he said. He called on the Pentagon to narrowly define any exemptions to apply to specific facilities, and said Congress should periodically review the exemptions. He also called for a new national strategy to fund the assessment and remediation of perchlorate contamination. Lisa Friedman can be reached at (202) 662-8731 or by e-mail at lisa.friedman@langnews.com |
Url: |