Live-fire maneuvers
to resume at MakuaA federal judge orders the Marines
to limit their mortar barrages
Kaneohe Marines will drastically cut back the number of mortar rounds they will use when they return to Makua Valley on Monday to begin a week of live-fire training.
Yesterday, federal Judge Susan Mollway lifted a temporary restraining order she issued March 19 banning live-fire training, but issued the new restrictions on training.
David Henkin, the Earthjustice attorney who represents the Waianae citizens group Malama Makua, said yesterday's approved settlement means the Marines will be allowed to use rockets and mortars only "when the risks of fires are extremely remote."
However, the settlement does not affect the use of live-fire training with M-16 rifles.
Maj. Chris Hughes, Marine Corps spokesman, said, "Some training is better than none, but it is not what the battalion commander wanted to prepare his Marines for combat."
Hughes said 100 Kaneohe Marines will begin the necessary preparations beginning on Monday, with the first live-fire exercise planned for next Thursday.
The Marines had wanted to train a company of 100 for a week beginning last Friday, using three 60 mm mortars and three inert shoulder-launched rockets. Hughes said inert rockets will still be used as part of the modified training schedule. However, the number of mortar rounds that will be used have been cut back to 36 from 110.
Patricia Simoes, Army spokeswoman, said: "Although this agreement limits the ability of our soldiers to train as completely as they will fight in the global war against terrorism, the Army and Marine Corps will continue to do whatever it takes for soldiers and Marines ... to train for combat in Makua."
The settlement further restricts the Army from setting off any type of controlled burns until it has completed its work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Those consultations were required after a July 22 fire that was supposed to help the Army control foliage in the valley but burned out of control and scorched more than half of the 4,190-acre training range.
Earthjustice filed a federal lawsuit March 15 after the Marines announced that they intended to use 20 times the mortars used in September 1998, the last time they trained in Makua. During that exercise, a misfired mortar landed outside a firebreak road and started a fire that burned 800 acres.
Three years ago the Army and Earthjustice agreed to a settlement that allowed the Army to use Makua Valley with certain restrictions, pending the completion of an environmental impact study. The valley is home for 45 federally protected plants and animals.
Sparky Rodrigues, Malama Makua board member, said, "We've said all along we prefer no training at Makua and the eventual cleanup and return of the valley to a cultural and traditional use, but following the spirit of the 2001 agreement, we just want the military to respect the community, environment and the law."