Environmental Law
DOJ Legal Opinion Says Pentagon Must Obey EPA Cleanup Orders
Posted Dec 5, 2008, 06:11 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A Justice Department legal opinion tells the Pentagon that it must clean up three sites as ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Washington Post obtained a copy of the opinion by deputy assistant attorney general Steven Bradbury. The Dec. 1 opinion said the Defense Department did not have legal grounds to refuse to comply with the cleanup of chemical contamination, the Post says.
The sites are Fort Meade in Maryland, McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey and Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida.
The Defense Department had also disputed some provisions in EPA cleanup plans for nine other sites, according to the article. The opinion said the environmental agency had the authority to demand the additional terms.