Missile Offense

Enviros and arms-control groups are suing the Pentagon today over its plans for a new missile defense test range in the Pacific. The Natural Resources Defense Council, Greenpeace, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and a number of Alaska-based plaintiffs charge that the Defense Department must conduct an analysis of the environmental impact of missile testing on Alaska, California, Hawaii, and other places in the proposed range. They fear the test range could harm salmon and lead to pollution problems. Environmental impact statements can take well over a year to complete. The department had planned to begin constructing portions of the range early next year.