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Page updated June 30, 2007 |
Independent Oversight of HAARPThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was signed into law on January 1, 1970. Prior to this law, there was little environmental regulatory oversight for many Federal projects like highways, dams, airports, nuclear above ground testing, etc. Following the enactment of NEPA, however, all such projects are subject to review, reporting requirements, and mandated activities. These oversight responsibilities are often not readily apparent to the general public. HAARP has complied with regulatory oversight requirements during all phases of the program beginning with the initial Environmental Impact Study conducted during 1992-1993, through all subsequent construction activities, and continuing today in all research operations. The Air Force is committed to safe, interference-free operation of the HAARP facility being constructed in Gakona, and has met or exceeded the NEPA requirements by having both voluntary as well as required oversight. Formal oversight is provided by a number of federal, state, and local agencies. In some agencies several departments provide independent oversight for different concerns. The following table lists those agencies that provide active, independent review of HAARP:
As a means to facilitate community input for suggesting mitigation measures, providing a conduit of information to the regulatory agencies and the public, and ensuring independent oversight, the Air Force established a Resolution Committee. This Committee was established voluntarily by the Air Force and represents an additional segment of the independent oversight that HAARP must observe. These are the agencies or organizations that are members of this Committee: Resolution Committee Membership:
HAARP has tried to be responsive to the public's need for independent review. In addition to providing information to the local representative on the Resolution Committee and through this Web Site, informational meetings and presentations take place regularly. For example, technical presentations are given at the Prince William Sound Community College on the research being conducted at the facility, talks have been provided to Amateur Radio Clubs and other interested organizations, and the HAARP program maintains an active community outreach effort with help from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. In addition, HAARP hosts Open Houses at the Gakona Research Station and provides tours of the facility for organized community and school groups. All potential known environmental consequences of constructing and operating HAARP have been thoroughly studied, investigated, and reviewed, by appropriate independent authorities. HAARP can operate only at power levels, frequencies, and durations that have been reviewed and approved by the regulatory oversight agencies as stated in the EIS. The active voluntary and formal independent oversight assures the safe operation of HAARP. Read more: The National Environmental Policy Act (from the Environmental Protection Agency). The National Environmental Policy Act (from Wikipedia). |
