The military complex wants a much bigger footprint in Washington State on the ground and in the air. The Navy's plan is to add 36 more EA-18G Growlers to the current fleet of 82 jets based on Whidbey Island near Seattle. The use of the growlers penetrates households and recreational activities. These are just two examples of the impact the planes have.
H.R.473 was introduced January 12, 2017. It would greatly expand the reach of the military on public land by allowing expedited declassification of public lands as historic places in the interest of national security. Washington is only one among the states being viewed as an expansive training ground and a place for new weapons testing.
If the bill passes, protective agencies with depleted funds, thanks to the Trump Administration, will be no match for military will.
Public lands are already being closed off while training exercises take place, including those that have relatively heavy use by the public. The cost to the American People, and to all protected species, is high
Military actions should be in violation of laws such as NEPA, the Administrative Procedures Act and the National Historic Preservation and importantly, the public trust doctrine.
By law the military has use of public lands, but it also must abide by a public trust. If it does not then what are the impacts on public health and the environment, including water supplies and habitat use by wildlife, particularly when such use is expanding?
The problem is there are too few trained lawyers to argue these cases. There is also the possibility that the very Acts they would have argued will disappear.
The fundamental question is what happens when the deep militiarization of public space is normalized in the name of "safety"? It would ironic that the human race becomes more likely to face extinction due to this kind of increased militarism on domestic grounds thanks to powerful political encroachments, than due to wars that are in cases manufactured by the United States.