Is Buckley Air Force Base Poisoning Prairie Dogs?
PPA learned that Colorado air force bases might be using fumigants to poison the black-tailed prairie dogs. This action would be a violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before taking action of this type. On November 19, 2004, PPA sent letters of inquiry to Buckley, Peterson, and Shriever Air Force Base Commanders, urging them to “immediately hold a scoping session with the public so both the government and the public can discuss what impacts fumigation will have in the environment and on people.” Peterson and Shriever responded, saying that no prairie dogs live on their property. Buckley Air Force Base is compiling a list of all documents pertaining to prairie dogs. When we receive the list, we will be able to determine the next action. If an air base is poisoning prairie dogs without following the NEPA process, it may be a violation of the policy and punishable by law. The r
