BACKGROUND: Sometime prior to Thursday June 4, Congressman Mark Neumann (member of the House Appropriations Committee), at the direct urging of Congressman Scott Klug, wrote a letter to the Chairman C.W. "Bill" Young (R-Florida) of the National Security Subcommittee (of the House Appropriations Committee) requesting Young offer an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill that would directly transfer 5,600 acres of Badger Army Ammunition Plant to the State of Wisconsin (reportedly the DOA, and note, NOT the DNR), 1200 acres to the US Dairy Forage Research Center, the remaining 554 acres would remain with the Army and be eventually excessed through the GSA process (existing federal process for disposal of excess federal lands) and presumably be sold to the highest bidder.

By late Thursday, June 4, it was reported by several sources that the amendment was NOT offered by Young. The amendment could still be offered by the larger Appropriations Committee or from the floor, however this is, according to Klug's staff, much more difficult.

HOWEVER, Congressman Klug and Neumann are AGAIN, according to reports late today June 5, attempting to offer the same amendment -- this time through the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee. The amendment could be offered as soon as Tuesday, June 9! The Chairman of the Military Construction Subcommittee is Congressman Ron Packard (R-California).

The proposed Klug/Neumann amendment is disastrous for many reasons, including:

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: If the amendment is passed, it will override the existing federally-mandated process for disposal of excess federal properties (GSA process) and effectively shut out the Ho-Chunk. Under the existing process, Ho-Chunk (formerly Winnebago) Nation has an opportunity to gain ownership of part of Badger. According to the Nation9s application for ownership of Badger lands, the general basis for the tribe's claim is title 25 U.S.C. 450j(f)(3) of the Indian Education and Self-determination Act. There is also other independent authority for which the Secretary of the Interior may acquire, purchase, assign, gift, or lease property for the benefit and use of Indian tribes. The Ho-Chunk Nation has relied on most of them as applicable. If the ammendment is approved, only the final 554 acres will be excessed according to GSA; Ho-Chunk will presumably have to compete with other interests for this property.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT: The proposal lays the groundwork for an industrial chemical complex bigger than all of Sauk County9s existing industrial parks COMBINED. There will be no limitations on the type of development - anything from a paper mill to a prison to a paint factory could be allowed. According to existing State Statute, if excess federal lands are sold in this state for private development, compliance with local and County Planning and Zoning ordinances is NOT required! The primary and secondary impacts of such a proposal -- to the adjacent Baraboo Hills and Devil9s Lake State Park, taxes, hospitals, housing, schools, property values, transportation, air quality, water quality - are unknown and assuredly disasterous.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The GSA recently announced a public process, facilitated by the Sauk County Planning and Zoning staff, would be initiated including 6 to 8 months for public meetings and information gathering, followed by a comprehensive Environmental Impact Study to identify the cumulative and long-term implications of considered land uses at Badger - a process anticipated to take anywhere from 18 to 36 additional months. The Klug/Neumann proposal is made without the benefit of public input and, moreover, a comprehensive analysis of how their proposal will impact our communities and our natural resources.

CONTACT:
**Congressman Ron Packard
Chairman, Military Construction Subcommittee
Phone 202-225-3906
Fax 202-225-0134
E-mail: ep.packard@mail.house.gov

Congressman Mark Neumann
Phone 202-225-3031
Fax 202-225-3393
E-mail: mneumann@hr.house.gov

Congressman Scott Klug
Phone 202-225-2906
Fax 202-225-6942
E-mail: badger02@hr.house.gov

Please:
FORWARD THIS ACTION ALERT TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Olah, Executive Director
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger
E12629 Weigand's Bay South
Merrimac, Wisconsin 53561
olah@speagle.com
Phone (608)643-3124 Fax (608)643-0005
Website: http://www.speagle.com/cswab