[IP] GOP wants California National Park as Military Enclave (!!!)
Begin forwarded message:
From: Paul Saffo <paul@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: December 10, 2005 3:24:15 PM EST
To: Dave Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: GOP wants California National Park as Military Enclave (!!!)
The arrogance of this is astounding.
-p
Plan would make Santa Rosa Island a military recreation enclave
- By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer
Friday, December 9, 2005
(12-09) 14:33 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --
Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park off the coast of
Southern California would become a recreation enclave for the
military under a proposal for a pending defense bill.
The measure was being circulated by Republican aides for the House
Armed Services Committee, chaired by California GOP Rep. Duncan
Hunter, according to Democratic congressional aides who made it
public Friday.
Hunter proposed a similar measure in May only to drop it amid
objections from Democrats and environmentalists. His committee
spokesman, Josh Holly, declined comment Friday.
"This is a bad idea and that's why it's being pushed in secret
negotiations behind closed doors and out of public view," said Rep.
Lois Capps, D-Calif., whose district includes 53,000-acre Santa Rosa
Island off Santa Barbara.
"All Americans should have access to the Channel Islands National
Park, not just top military brass, members of Congress and folks who
can pay thousands of dollars to go on private hunting trips," Capps
said.
The issue has become part of the negotiations on a wide-ranging
defense bill that many lawmakers want to use to outlaw cruel or
inhumane treatment of terrorism-related detainees. Congressional
leaders hope to get final votes on that bill in the House and Senate
next week and send it to President Bush.
The measure would require the secretary of defense to develop a plan
to establish and operate a "morale, welfare and recreation operation"
on Santa Rosa Island for members of the Armed Forces, dependents,
veterans, guests and others. The island also would be available for
use as a training area for special operations forces.
The plan must be submitted to the Interior Department and defense
committees in Congress by May 30, 2006. The proposal envisions the
Pentagon taking over the island from the National Park Service before
2009.
Critics contend the measure does not provide for continued public
access to the island, its rare plants and diverse landscape.
Opponents also are concerned that the measure would allow a
commercial deer and elk hunting operation now on Santa Rosa Island to
continue indefinitely. Under a lease agreement, the family that runs
the hunting operation must end it and remove the game from the island
by 2011.
"It is our belief that what's likely going on here is that the aim of
this whole proposal is to allow this operation to continue," said Ron
Sundergill, director of the National Parks Conservation Association's
Pacific region.
___
On the Net:
National Park Service Santa Rosa Island site: www.nps.gov/chis/
sripage.htm
URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/12/09/state/
n143322S83.DTL
And to reach Rep Hunter who is promoting this idea:
Representative Duncan Hunter
2265 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-5672
FAX: (202) 225-0235
http://www.house.gov/hunter/district.html
And Congresswoman Lois Capps, who is opposed to the move:
Representative Lois Capps
1707 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3601
Fax: (202) 225-5632
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