Red, white and blue - not green

| Wednesday, July 31, 2002 10:00 PM PDT ∞

Bill Horn
Commentary

The Marines who stormed ashore at Iwo Jima in World War II trained for the invasion on a mile-long stretch of Camp Pendleton called Red Beach.

One of the Marine Corps' maxims is "We train as we must fight." Marines must replicate the modern battlefield with realistic training. That was possible in 1944. But in 2002, the threat of encroachment is eroding our nation's ability to provide realistic combat training for our military forces.

Aid and comfort are being given to the enemy by frivolous lawsuits and abuse of federal and state environmental regulations, specifically, the 1973 Endangered Species Act.

I believe the lives of men and women who have volunteered to defend our country are more important than plants, bugs, birds and fairy shrimp.

Consider Camp Pendleton's Red Beach. Because of the presence of endangered species such as fairy shrimp, gnatcatchers and the California least tern, amphibious landings today have to be made at severely restricted areas on base. After coming ashore, vehicles must stick to designated roads so as not to harm a weed. Marines can't dig random fighting positions without waivers. Signs posted on wire fences alerting Marines to protected habitat or endangered plants are as important as keeping out of the line of imaginary fire.

Compared to the Red Beach that Marines trained on in World War II, Marines today must avoid 60 percent of the landing area because of endangered bugs and birds.

There are more endangered species in San Diego County than any county in the mainland United States. On Camp Pendleton's 125,000 acres, 18 identified species are being managed. Our military is an excellent steward of our natural resources.

However, there needs to be a balance, using common sense while preserving our national security. A good first step is supporting passage of a bill before the U.S. House of Representatives. The Sound Science for Endangered Species Act Planning Act of 2002, HR 4840, amends the Endangered Species Act to require that a full range of scientific data be submitted along with a petition to list a species as endangered.

Under present law, no scientific data need be submitted when petitioning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies to list a species as endangered. Government bureaucrats have maximum latitude in choosing which data, if any, to accept or ignore.

HR 4840, besides requiring a range of scientific data, mandates a public process to include other competing data, an independent scientific review, improved interagency cooperation and public access to information before listing.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is on record in support of HR 4840.

Our national security and military readiness are on the endangered list. A decrease in overseas training and increase in base closings mean more training requirements for Camp Pendleton. Sending troops elsewhere to train is expensive and adds to family separation.

The words of President Bush in 1999 ring true today: "Shortfalls on the proving ground become disasters on the battlefield." I believe that at the very least, all military combat training areas should be exempt from critical habitat restrictions. If we fail to defend our nation, then everything else, including protection for bugs, gnatcatchers and fairy shrimp, is irrelevant.

Bill Horn is county supervisor for the 5th District.

8/1/02