European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday november 26, 19b8 the stars and stripes Page 5 panel to Start listing obsolete bases  to get priority by he Baltimore son Washington a special commission mindful of the fierce political Battles that could erupt if Mili tary Cost cutting Steps arc not applied evenly across the country is scheduled 10 begin drafting monday a Long awaited hit list or obsolete . Bases one of the panel s co chairmen says we know our work product has to pass Muster with the Secretary of defense and Congress. It can t be done insensitively said Jack Edwards the former Republican congressman from Alabama who is co chairman of the commission. During a Telephone interview from his Law office in Mobile Edwards said the 12-Mcmbcr Volunteer com Mission understands we ought not to lose our minds when it comes to picking a particular area for base  we will be sensitive to that he said asserting that a list that balances regional interests stands to Gam the most political support in Congress. Edwards insisted thai no preliminary lists have been drawn up by the commission which meets Here privately monday and tuesday and he declined to say if bases named in previous Pentagon lists might end up on the new one. The commission on base realignment and closure also chaired by sex sen Abraham rib Colt d-conn., was created last May by defense Secretary Frank c. Carlucci in anticipation of a new Law enacted last month requiring a bipartisan group to Lead the Politi Cally difficult task of closing unneeded military bases. The measure which Calls for closing or consolidating bases beginning in 1990, could save taxpayers si.5 billion 10 is billion depending on the number of facilities involved various congressional and Pentagon estimates show. By Law the panel has a dec 31 deadline for submit Ling a list of targeted facilities to Carlucci who would have until Jan. 16 to Forward it to Congress under a take it or leave it policy Bath the administration and Congress must accept or reject the entire list. This procedure was designed to limit pressure o Reserve individual facilities. Despite Strong efforts by president Carter and to a lesser extent president Rea Gan to save Money on military bases not one has closed since 1977 because of the intervention of legislators who feared losing jobs and votes in their districts. So far the commission s 40-me Ember staff drawn mostly from the Pentagon has been working to finish its analysis of 3,816 Domestic military installations so the panel can begin choosing candidates Tor the hit list said James g. Abbee a commission spokesman. We do the analysis and Pul it All on the table Abbee said. Among the criteria to be used by commissioners in their decisions Are the physical condition of a base the ability to relocate military missions now assigned to a base economic and environmental Impact of a base closure local activities and facilities supporting a base and future military requirements he said the actual number of bases to be designated for closing is Uncertain although House armed services committee chairman let Aspin d-wis., predicted this month that about 25 out offie 35.5 largest installations in the country should be on the list. Court says Maine can Fine Navy for hazardous waste Portland Maine a Maine s authority to Fine the Navy up to 525,000 a Day for violating stale hazardous waste regulations at a nuclear submarine overhaul base has been upheld by a Federal judge. Maine and several other states that have been trying to Force the Federal government to abide by their hazardous waste Laws had awaited u.5. District judge Gene Carter s decision for a year. Maine attorney general James e. Tiercy who filed the stale s lawsuit seeking a cleanup and fines against the Portsmouth naval shipyard in kit cry could not be reached by Telephone on thursday. But Deputy attorney general Philip Ahrons said he Hopes Carter s decision wednesday sets a pattern for rulings in similar cases in other parts of Fth country. We believe hat the Federal government which has some of the worst hazardous waste Sites should be subject to the same Laws As everyone else is said Ahrons. It was not immediately known whether the Navy would Appeal Carter s decision to the 1st . Circuit court of appeals in Boston. Justice department attorney Mary Elizabeth Ward who handled the Case for the Navy could not be reached through the Kittery facility where phones were answered by a taped Mes Sage. -. Tic my filed two lawsuits in 1986 asking thai the Southern Maine shipyard be required to clean up inac Tive solid waste and hazardous waste dumps including a Landfill and Mercury disposal areas. The shipyard needs oils id pressure to Crney said at the time adding that the environmental Protection Agency did not have enough influence to push the Sands of time Pentagon  the Navy claimed that it could not be forced to pay civil penalties even if it violated Maine Laws and that Maine s annual fees levied against All hazardous waste Generator were an unconstitutional lax on the Federal government. In november 1987, Lhen-. Magistrate d. Brock Hornby recommended that Federal facilities not be exempted from stale environmental regulations. Sever Al states joined Maine in asking Carter to uphold Hornby s findings. On wednesday Carter declared he wholeheartedly concurs with Hornby s conclusion that the Federal resource conservation and recovery act allows the recovery of civil penalties by a stale Agency against the Federal government. Quoting from Hornby s conclusion Carter said that Federal facilities will be treated the same As private institutions so far As enforcement of the solid waste and hazardous waste Laws Are  Carter also ruled that the state can require the ship Yard to contribute to a state fund used to administer the slate s hazardous waste program. The fees apply to other hazardous Walcer licensees and generators and it is Clear thai the intent of the Federal Law is to have Federal facilities treated in the same manner As any person " Carter said. On the Issue of civil penalties. Carter agreed with Hornby that Congress waived Sovereign immunity a Legal doctrine that Shields the government from most lawsuits when it passed the Acra in 1976. Acra subjects Federal facilities to stale hazardous waste Laws. Be Happy the 1989 easter Seal child Joy Hall left id of Baltimore was delighted when the outgoing National child Shawn Dennsteadt presented her with the traditional medallion at the easter Seal s annual convention in Dallas in the stars and stripes 4q years ago foe a nov. 26, 1948 despite rumours thai King George i would abdicate in favor of his daughter Princess Elizabeth because of ill health Palace officials announced that the Monarch had no intention of slipping down.-. 30 years ago today nov. 26, 1958 on a four Day visit to London vice president Ninon attended the dedication of a memorial to american War dead and had thanksgiving dinner with Queen Elizabeth. 20 years ago today. Nov. 26, 1968 a study released by the Chicago health research foundation stated that High blood cholesterol seemed to increase cigarette smokers risk of gelling. Lung cancer. -. To years Ergo today. Nov. 26, 1978 nicaraguan president Anasiasia Somoza rejected a . Plan to solve the country s political problems by holding a National plebiscite. 1 Golden fleece to remain after sen. Proxmire quits Washington a retiring sen. William proxy narc d-wis., has been elected to the Board of the National tax payers Union and will continue sponsor ing his Golden fleece award in the new role the group says. We Are delighted to Welcome sen Ator Proxmire to the nut Board said Jim Davidson chairman of the not for profit gadfly organization his integrity and Long standing dedication to the rights of taxpayers is Well known and we Are honoured to have him associated with the work ofntu."/.   Davidson said that starting in Jan uary Pra Imire will supervise his monthly Golden fleece award in cooperation with the taxpayers Union. L i am pleased to join the Board of nut which i regard As the most effective lobby in Washington working for the Benefit of the general taxpaying Public. Proxmire said ,. Proxmire who was in the Senate 32 years started giving out his monthly Golden fleece award in 1975 for what. He termed the biggest example of ridiculous ironic or wasteful spending by a government Agency. The nut which Calls itself a taxpayer advocacy organization was. Founded in 1969. It claims 150,000 members. By