Nohelia Ramos, organizer for EHC's Clean Bay Campaign speaks during the MTP press conference in Washington.

Grassroots leaders from San Diego, Vieques, Puerto Rico, San Antonio, Texas, and Alaska rallied in Washington, D.C. on March 1 to oppose Department of Defense attempts to avoid environmental regulation. Laura Hunter, director of Environmental Health Coalition’s Clean Bay Campaign and CBC organizer Nohelia Ramos joined members of the Military Toxics Project (MTP) for the rally.

The MTP demanded that the hearing scheduled by the Military Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee for March 14 include testimony from community leaders and state officials. Residents from impacted communities across the country described the damage caused to their communities by military contamination and pollution.

"Congress needs to hear from the impacted communities directly," Hunter said. "These communities have a huge stake in this, it impacts all of us."

As a result of the demonstration, MTP was allowed to submit a written statement on behalf of the impacted communities to the Readiness Subcommittee. MTP has vowed to continue efforts to have voices of community members included in the congressional decision-making process.

Action Alert: Demand Military Environmental Accountability
The Department of Defense already has complete or partial exemptions from many environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, the Oil Pollution Act, and CERCLA (the Superfund law). However, the Pentagon is developing proposals for additional exemptions from environmental laws for military activities. Last year, three Congressional hearings were held on the impacts of urban growth and environmental laws on military training and readiness, which excluded impacted community or state representatives.

Add your voice to those demanding that the military be held to the same environmental protection standards required of other operations. For more information visit The Military Toxics Project online at www.miltoxproj.org.