Pentagon would boost effectiveness at the expense of its own environmental policy

Human Quest, Jan/Feb 2005

The Department of Defense, which has won congressional exemptions from environmental laws in the last two years, now wants to change an internal policy that commits the department to sound environmental practices, the Los Angeles Times reported in December.

A draft of the proposal, which would replace a 1996 directive, would eliminate the Pentagon's vow to "display environmental security leadership within DOD activities worldwide." It would stress, instead, the "national defense mission."

The new proposal would scrap a list of concrete responsibilities, and substitute vague guidance about how the military would prevent pollution and guarantee compliance with federal and international laws.

The directive would not affect any ongoing cleanup efforts by the Defense Department.