In order to prevent air pollution, the federal government is prepared to allow more of it during this wildfire season.
During summer of 1995, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers found that wildfires burning in Canada sent plumes of carbon monoxide to the eastern seaboard and southeastern U.S, and were on of the largest sources of carbon monoxide pollution at the time.
This summer, the U.S. Department of Defense appears to be prepared to let Americans live and possibly die under the fire-created dirty skies with its announcement last week that it would bar the transfer of surplus military equipment to fire departments, law enforcement, and other first responders because they might not meet federal emissions standards.
Half of the U.S. Senate including Arizona senators John McCain and Jeff Flake signed a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel calling on the DoD to reverse its freeze.
“We are deeply concerned that this decision was made during the peak of wildfire season,” the senators write in the letter to Secretary Hagel. “We see no justification for government red-tape to stand in the way of helping first responders get the equipment they need to respond to wildland fires, floods, and other natural disasters.”
The DoD’s decision to bar the transfer of equipment was a reversal of decades of past policy where such equipment was granted a national security exemption by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DoD has announced a partial lifting of the freeze, but concerns remain among first responder organizations that the agreement does not guarantee the long-term use of these vehicles and does not cover a number of items under the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP).
The senators are asking for a full explanation of DoD’s rationale for the freeze and for a plan to correct the transfer restriction as soon as possible.
The letter is signed by 25 Senators listed below including John McCain,Jeff Flake, Mark Udall,Susan Collins, Joe Manchin, and Kelly Ayotte.
July 10, 2014
The Honorable Chuck Hagel, Secretary
U.S. Department of Defense
1300 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1300
Dear Secretary Hagel:
It has come to our attention that the Department of Defense (DoD), citing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recently interrupted the transfer of surplus military equipment to states and local governments that are used for firefighting, natural disaster mitigation and relief, and law enforcement. We are deeply concerned that this decision was made during the peak of wildfire season.
We understand that there may be confusion within DoD and EPA over the interpretation of regulations barring the transfer of federal vehicles that don’t meet certain emission standards. As a result, the U.S. Army’s Tank and Automotive Command (TACOM) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) announced last week that they were unable to transfer trucks to the U.S Department of Agriculture Forest Service for loan to state forestry organizations under the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP) and the Firefighter Property Program (FPP). Every year, these two programs supply local firefighting agencies with over $150 million in excess federal equipment like trucks, pumps, generators, and engine parts. For many small and rural fire departments, federal excess equipment may be the only equipment they can afford. So far this year, 83% of all wildfires have been responded to by state and local fire agencies, most of which were on federal lands.
We see no justification for government red-tape to stand in the way of helping first responders get the equipment they need to respond to wildland fires, floods, and other natural disasters. While we understand that DoD and EPA may be close to resolving this issue, we respectfully request that you provide us with your specific course of action for rescinding the restrictions placed on both the FEPP and FPP programs and clarify any vehicle title concerns raised by state foresters and law enforcement agencies.
Sincerely,
Kelly Ayotte
John McCain
Barbara Mikulski
James Inhofe
John Barrasso
Jeff Flake
Michael Bennet
Jerry Moran
Tom Harkin
Mike Johanns
Jeanne Shaheen
Chuck Grassley
Joe Manchin
John Boozman
Jon Tester
John Cornyn
Mark Pryor
Mike Enzi
Mark Udall
Susan Collins
Deb Fischer
Tim Scott
Daniel Coats
Lindsey Graham
Thad Cochran