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Oppose the Pentagon's Readiness and Range Preservation Initiative
The Pentagon is asking Congress to exempt the military from laws that protect wildlife. While we understand the importance of the military's efforts to defend our nation, blanket exemptions are not necessary to achieve this goal. The laws now under fire already allow exemptions on a case-by-case basis for national security reasons. Tell Congress that the Pentagon is not above the law. Protecting our country should include defending laws that protect all species for future generations.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Support the Senate Version of the DOD Authorization Bill
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing today to urge you to oppose any provisions in the Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2004 that provide broad exemptions for the military from landmark environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and instead to support the Senate language related to environmental provisions in the DOD authorization bill.
In July, the House of Representatives passed legislation as part of the DOD authorization bill that would give the Department of Defense an exemption from the critical habitat provision of the Endangered Species Act, strip key protections from the Marine Mammal Protection Act as well as undermine protection of the San Pedro River in Arizona. Fortunately, the Senate version of the DOD authorization bill includes much more measured language on environmental exemptions and does not contain provisions that would harm the San Pedro.
I urge you to oppose any provisions that would weaken our ability to protect habitat for endangered species on all lands and to oppose language that would exempt the military from any responsibility for draining aquifers and rivers through its off-base population growth. This latter amendment would devastate the San Pedro River, one of North America's most important wildlife havens.
I hope that you will listen to these views, support the Senate language and oppose any environmental exemptions for the military or other anti-environmental riders in the Defense Authorization Bill.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
March 17, 2003
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In July, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would give the Department of Defense an exemption from the critical habitat provision of the Endangered Species Act, strip key protections from the Marine Mammal Protection Act as well as undermine protection of the San Pedro River in Arizona.
Fortunately, the Senate version of the DOD authorization bill includes much more measured language on environmental exemptions and does not contain provisions that would harm the San Pedro. The Senate language would allow the military to do its own natural resource management plans for protection of habitats on military lands that are critical to endangered species.
But, the Senate would also require that all plans be reviewed by the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that they would actually protect wildlife and that there is funding to ensure that the plan would be implemented. The Senate bill has no provision excluding the military from the Marine Mammal Protection Act or removing protections from the San Pedro River.
No federal agency should be above the law, especially the laws that protect our wildlife, water, air, and the environment in and around military facilities. For decades, the American people have supported these important public health and conservation laws and continue to do so today. Additional exemptions are not necessary. Existing law already contains provisions providing for case-by-case waivers in the interest of national security.
We should be able to protect our natural heritage, like the bald eagle, at the same time that we defend our country. Many marine mammal populations like the Pacific gray whale are just starting to recover. Roughly 300 endangered species, such as big horn sheep and peregrine falcons live on military land. It makes no sense to allow the military to harm or kill whales, dolphins or endangered species when the flexibility exists to allow training and testing while still protecting these animals.
There is no evidence that the military has ever been refused an exemption from these laws when it has been sought, and abundant evidence that cooperative local efforts have produced effective solutions. The military has, time and time again, found reasonable solutions to pursue necessary training in compliance with environmental laws.
Click here for related documents on the Department of Defense exemptions
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