Posted on 12/11/2007 9:27:30 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
WASHINGTON — A key U.S. senator wants Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to explain why he ordered environmental studies on a planned border fence in Texas, but bypassed such a study in Arizona.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, chairman of the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee, also is questioning Chertoff's decision to waive environmental laws to build a stretch of fence in the San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area on the Arizona-Mexico border.
"By what criteria did DHS decide to conduct an EIS on a regional scale in Texas, but decide it was not appropriate in Arizona or other southern border states?" Lieberman asked in a letter sent Monday to Chertoff.
Russ Knocke, Chertoff's spokesman, said the agency would respond to Liberman's questions.
In October, Chertoff invoked power given to him by Congress to waive 19 environmental laws after a court blocked construction of the 2-mile fence in the Arizona conservation area.
About a month earlier, the Homeland Security Department announced it was preparing an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, to study possible effects of fence construction along 70 miles of the Texas-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley. An EIS requires public hearings and is a more thorough study.
Environmental assessments have been ordered for fencing planned on other parts of the Texas-Mexico border.
The Homeland Security Department did an environmental assessment for Arizona, a study that does not require as much public input and is not as in-depth.
"While developing additional layers of border security is a priority for our nation, it should not impede our ability to also continue to be good environmental stewards," said Lieberman, I-Conn., who has championed environmental causes in the Senate.
Knocke said environmental studies are a key part of decision-making for any border construction project, including the Arizona fence.
But he said the agency also had to consider that the Interior Department was advising the public of the dangers of going to parts of the San Pedro conservation area because of a rise in crime and violence.
By waiving environmental laws, the agency can build the fence more quickly and stem the criminal activity. The fence also will help the environment by curbing the cars, water and food containers, clothing and other trash discarded in the desert, Knocke said.
Congress gave Chertoff the authority to waive various laws for border security purposes in 2005. That law is being challenged as unconstitutional by environmental groups.
A 2006 law mandated construction of 700 miles of fencing on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Border ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
“Environmental assessments have been ordered for fencing planned on other parts of the Texas-Mexico border.”...When an American city gets nuked by muzzies who crossed the border, will these bozo’s speed things up?...probably not.
The answer to this question is easy. Studies take time and delay any action on any subject matter. Close our borders now. They can do it if they want to.........evidently our government doesn’t want to close our borders. If the government wants to spend money, how long does it take to add pork to bills? Not long.
I don’t give a crap about the environmental impact of building a fence. I already know the impact of NOT building it.
Oh no, they will institute full body searches for Granny Smith at the airports and call for banning all firearms owned by American Citizens.
I don’t know what Lieberman’s angle is. He was against building a fence last I checked.
I agree. Chertoff discovered the env. impact of the fence is ZERO compared to the env. impact of no fence.
I've been on to complain about eminent domain takings that involve private developers, like Kelo.
Unbelievable! The illegals bring tons and tons of garbage over the border and trash huge swaths of Arizona desert and that’s O.K. with the Feds. Now they want to spend months or years doing an environmental impact study for the fence.
Lieberman is questioning Chertoff’s decision to waive environmental laws to build a stretch of fence in the San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area on the AZ border.
ping
Lieberman has consistently come out in favor of illegal aliens invading this country but also getting special perks.
I remember Duncan Hunter specifically stating that the Security Fence Act was written in such a way that it waived all the environmental concerns. I can’t look for that cite right now because I’m really not at my desk.
Does anyone remember that interview?
Congress voted to waive the enviro demands for the San Diego fence. I understood it also included this one.
Building the border fence is not an abuse of eminent domain. It is what it should be used for, i.e., national security and the common good.
In a separate bill, the congress gave the DHS the power to waive environmental regs. I’ll have to find it again.
Build Duncan Hunter’s fence, Mr. Chertoff - it’s the LAW!
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