Training center, Forest Service to swap land

[unhappycamper]

Training center, Forest Service to swap land
By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 4, 2007 11:45:56 EDT

Negotiations are underway that will give the Marine Corps de facto ownership of the land under the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif.

The Defense Department and the U.S. Forest Service plan to swap 200 acres of land in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest for the roughly 308 acres on which MWTC sits.

The deal helps ensure that Marines can continue training at MWTC without encroachment from developers. And it gives the Forest Service privately owned land located inside forest boundaries that was slated for development, said Capt. Amy Malugani, a spokeswoman for Marine Corps headquarters.

“Having a private development in the middle of an area used by the public for recreation and the military for training presented problems for all parties involved,” Malugani said. “Purchase of the land ensures that it remains undeveloped and available for public use.”

The Defense Department, working through Navy and Marine Corps regional land managers, bought the 200 acres of privately owned property in 2004 when it came on the market.

Negotiations then began with the Forest Service for the exchange.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/10/marine_landswap_071004/



uhc comment: I sure hope the Marines pay attention to environmental issues once they gain full control of the land in question.

HEY!!1! It might happen. :shrug:

[NYVet]

1. They will pay more attention to environmental issues than private hikers will.

Otherwise they will be made out to be "evil warmongers who are scaring Bambi and Thumper" by parts of the media.

[unhappycamper]

2. I beg to differ.

A quick google search about Otis AFB on Cape Cod turns up about 26,000 hits.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=otis+afb+%2B+pollution&btnG=Search

Apparently they did not get the same memo you did.