CONFERENCE REPORT FOR THE FY2008 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
INCLUDES DAVIS-SANCHEZ LANGUAGE DERAILING 241 SOUTH
WASHINGTON, DC. December 7, 2007 - Congressman Ken Calvert (R-Corona) was disappointed that the FY2008 National Defense Authorization Act included language inserted by Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) to repeal federal law that allowed the Department of the Navy to grant an easement at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. The amendment was added during a late night mark up of the bill, H.R. 1585. The language represents a serious blow to two decades of work to develop a locally-preferred and environmentally sensitive route for the Foothill-South toll road. The conference report for H.R. 1585 was filed today.
"Southern Californians spend hours stuck in traffic and the process to build new roads is an extremely long and arduous task," said Rep. Calvert. "Now, thanks to Reps. Susan Davis and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), a toll road project that has been years in the making has been set back indefinitely. Even more dangerously, Davis and Sanchez have allowed state control over federal land. They have allowed the interests of a small group -- anti-growth, anti-population, left-wing environmentalists -- to drive policy."
In 1971, the State of California and the Dept. of the Navy entered into a 50 year lease that allowed for the northern-most end of Camp Pendleton to be used as a State Park. In the lease, both parties signed and acknowledged the right of the Department of the Navy to grant current and future easements on the leased property.
For almost two decades, federal and state transportation and environmental agencies, as well as the Marine Corps have worked to identify the most environmentally prudent alternative for the Foothill-South. After following both California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, the preferred alternative route has been chosen and the environmental process is in the Final Environmental Impact Statement phase.
The amendment introduced by Rep. Davis to the National Defense Authorization Act during the House Armed Services Committee mark-up revises the federal legislation authorizing the Navy Department to grant an easement for the construction of the Foothill-South Project on Camp Pendleton. The effect of the language is to impose state law requirements on the Navy's rights to approve construction of roads on Camp Pendleton land.
"This language would not have seen the light of day if Rep. Sanchez, the leading Orange County Democrat, had not lent her support," said Rep. Calvert. "She understood the ramifications of the amendment and falsely claimed the project had been granted special environmental exemptions. While Rep. Davis had no right to interfere in Orange County transportation plans, the blame for this disastrous setback lays at Rep. Sanchez's door."