I tried to find a link to further information about this, but couldn't - so I am going to have to present this as best I can recall.

The Honorable Duncan Hunter R-CA, is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The committee recently has held hearings on some environmental laws that are causing problems for the military. This has received quite a bit of news coverage in the San Diego Union Tribune.

On the one hand: The marines at Camp Pendleton, because of environmental laws that are protecting a bird (gnatcatcher) have to alter the way that training takes place when practicing 'hitting the beach' for combat. They land from their boats, but then have to board a bus, so as not to mark up the beach, and the bus takes them inland to get on with the next phase of the exercise. In other words they never actually 'hit the beach.'

For the same reason, the marines are prohibited from actually digging trenches. There was some complaint when the marines reached Kandahar in Afghanistan they didn't know how to correctly build a military trench because they aren't allowed to practice. (I suppose there is a military way of building trenches.)

There are numerous other military activities that collide with environmental laws. I need to say that the gnatcatcher's territory extends deep into Mexico, and though the birds are few here (it's the northernmost limit of their territory) they are in great profusion down there.

But on the other hand - at least in the past - the military has not been environmentally friendly, leaving behind some messes when it closes up a base.

The House Armed Services Committee is considering legislation that will allow the military to do things like actually digging trenches and actually 'hitting the beach.'

What say you?

Yeah...i've heard about this

Right along with PETA's complaints that a new navy sonar system interferes with Whales' reproductive system & migrating habits

I am glad there are environmentalists out there making the argument for stopping destruction of endangered habitats.

I also am glad there are military people that think the training the do provides a valuable role in saving lives and accomplishing objectives.

IF


There is no other solution to the conflict I would hope that our interests in training soldiers outweigh the interests of preserving a habitat that is not the last bastion of a species.

However, something tells me there are other beaches and that digging must be allowed somewhere in the country.

Almost every military installation has had to adapt to environmental considerations during the last decade.
The Army at least has made significant changes to the way we are allowed to train.

Digging in is unauthorized on the majority of bases, unless approved at General Officer level. Soldiers are not allowed to do more than pass through vast tracts of land in places like Ft. Bragg, NC, for fear of disturbing the red-cockaded woodpecker.
Entire armored columns must be diverted at the National Training Center in Ft. Irwin, CA, if a certain species of toad is found in their path.
Small arms ammunition has undergone a costly make-over, by replacing lead based rounds with tungsten core ammo.

Great for the environment I guess, but is it worth the price. I suppose smarter people than I will have to figure that out.

The military has a job to do to make sure that it fights undo restrictions on its ability to field an excellent *** NOTICE: THIS WORD IS AGAINST THE RULES. FAILURE TO REMOVE IT WILL RESULT IN A STRIKE. ***-kicking group of armed forces. I like the environment, but no one is going to ask about gnat catchers if we completely blow our next amphibious landing.

Of course nothing could go worse than the fiasco in Somalia where reporters lit up the beach for our landing to cover it. Maybe the gnat catchers can live in the homes of the media.

Let me add a bit to this if I may.....

Remember the Top Gun school in the movie? That was filmed at the real Top Gun school that was the Navy Air Base at Miramar. It has now been turned over to the Marines - and is the Marine Air Station. They fly jets as well as helicoptors.

Miramar is located toward the northern end of San Diego and is really surrounded by the city - residential/business development. The Air Station was there long before development of the city extended out to it.

Miramar is a vitally important link. The Western Pacific Fleet which is based here - all those air craft carriers - those planes are based at Miramar. They train there, are repaired there, etc. When the carriers come into port, the planes land at Miramar.

Since the city now extends around the base, the Navy pilots have to fly in all sorts of circuitous routes as they practice touch-and-go tactics so as to minimize the amount of noise they create. Residents complain - however, the base was there first. Everyone who has bought a house in that area knew the base was there and that there could be a noise problem.

I recently read that another concern is the flight path of the miliatary jets disturbs some nesting birds and so this is another item the pilots have to take into consideration.

And then there is the issue of the vernal pools. You can read a description of them here:

Vernal Pools

As I understand it some of these vernal pools are on Camp Pendleton and when the marines are practicing in their tanks and jeeps, they have to avoid these for quite a distance around.