German Green Party insists environmental impact was not assessed

[unhappycamper]

German Green Party insists environmental impact was not assessed
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Monday, March 24, 2008

GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — The German Green Party is seeking action by the European Commission over what it claims is an illegal and environmentally damaging U.S. Army base expansion here.

German Greens and European Parliament member Hiltrud Breyer claimed in a recent parliamentary question that German authorities failed to carry out proper land development procedures, an environmental impact assessment or public consultation before construction of new off-post U.S. military housing near Grafenwöhr.

Hundreds of U.S. military families are already living in the Netzaberg housing area, and more are expected this summer with the movement of a brigade of soldiers and families to Grafenwöhr from Schweinfurt.

“Building activities, including the construction of 850 houses in contravention of prevailing laws, have been carried out there,” she said. “The justification given was that the building work constituted a military construction project and, as such, was subject to neither EU (European Union) nor German law.”

However, it was known from the outset that the land where the houses were built was withdrawn from the military training ground and the houses were privately financed (and therefore subject to German law), Breyer said.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53554

[newfie11]

1. Hey it's their country

Maybe we should abide by their laws or get out.