North County Times c/o lotus | 21.10.2004 16:05

The U.S. House of Representatives Friday approved an environmental waiver needed to override the California Coastal Commission's rejection of a security fence project along the U.S.-Mexico border. Citing environmental concerns, commission members in January decided the final 3 1/2 miles of the fence were inconsistent with the California Coastal Act, which regulates development.

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House overrides Coastal Commission's rejection of border fence


By: North County Times wire servicesSAN DIEGO - The U.S. House of Representatives Friday approved an environmental waiver needed to override the California Coastal Commission's rejection of a security fence project along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Citing environmental concerns, commission members in January decided the final 3 1/2 miles of the fence were inconsistent with the California Coastal Act, which regulates development.

In March, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, asked that the federal 9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act be amended to provide the necessary waivers to override the commission's decision.

The House agreed, and approved the amendment on a 256-160 vote.

"I am very pleased that my colleagues supported this amendment and understood that, as part of our homeland security efforts, we must complete the border fence," Hunter said.

He said the triple-fencing project is necessary to secure the border and to prevent smugglers and criminals from crossing.

The decision, with U.S. Senate backing, will clear the way for the completion of the project, which stretches 14 miles along the border from the Pacific Ocean to Otay Mountain.

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Apartheid wall? 22.10.2004 07:17 For all their glib free-market talk, the proponents of such an apartheid wall will end up diverting the northward flow of refugees and workers eastward into the desert, exacerbating the humanitarian nightmare. - CB Collin Baber e-mail:: roach747@yahoo.com Homepage:: roach747@yahoo.com Border Fence waiver not included in final Int 02.01.2005 16:47 The attempt to exempt the Border Triple Fence from environmental protections was not included in the Intelligence Reform Act. It was rejected in the Conference Committee between the House and the Senate. It appeared that House Member Jane Harmon, who was on the Conference Committee, was helpful in stopping it. However it is very likely that it will be amended to some early "must pass" legislation in 2005. The proponents do not seem willing for the waiver to be discussed through the normal committee process in which it would be fully analyzed and debated. It if were to be debated they would surely find a more reasonable alternative. Jim Peugh, San Diego Audubon Society Jim Peugh