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 (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard said Monday it was
withdrawing plans to periodically close 2,500 square miles of the
Great Lakes for live machine-gun firing exercises, responding to
safety and environmental concerns.

      The plan had been criticized by several U.S. and Canadian
mayors, business leaders and environmentalists who said it could be
unsafe and disruptive. Environmentalists had said they worried
about the consequences of lead going into the Great Lakes.

      "The Coast Guard appreciates the thoughtful comments we
received and we will work with the public to ensure the Coast Guard
can meet any threat to public safety or security," said Rear Adm.
John E. Crowley Jr., commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District in
Cleveland.

      "We are committed to addressing the concerns that training be
safe, preserve the diverse uses of the Lakes, and protect the
environment," Crowley said.

      Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., said Monday he learned about the
decision from Admiral Thad Allen, the Coast Guard's commandant, who
was "was dissatisfied with the process by which the Coast Guard
undertook this activity."

      "We understand the need of the Coast Guard to be in a top state
of readiness, but they must respect the public's concern for safety
and the environment," said Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wis.

      Crowley said he would "take the time to get this right" and
would not conduct live-fire training in the lakes to meet
non-emergency training requirements. Crowley said he planned to
reconsider public concerns and was committed to finding
"environmentally friendly alternatives to the lead ammunition we
currently use."

      Coast Guard officials had stressed in hearings around the Great
Lakes in recent months that live-fire practice was an essential
part of weapons training and noted they have safely conducted
live-fire tests in the nation's coastal waters for years.

      The Coast Guard had said the plan was designed to create test
zones and schedules that would have minimal effect on the
environment and Great Lakes boat traffic.

      The training zone proposal followed the Coast Guard's decision
to mount automatic weapons on about 150 Great Lakes vessels as it
has done on vessels on the East, West and Gulf coasts.

      Each of the 34 "safety zones" on lakes Superior, Michigan,
Huron, Erie and Ontario would have been closed to private vessels
for four-hour spans about four to eight times a year.

      Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., said the withdrawal of the plan was
"good news for the people of northern Michigan and for all
residents of the Great Lakes region."

      He said the Coast Guard noted "the placement of the live-fire
zones, the need for proper public notification and the possible use
of environmentally friendly ammunition as matters that cannot be
overlooked."

Gallery

Coast Guard discusses live fire exercise plans at Duluth hearing

Controversial Coast Guard plan gets hearing in Duluth

Coast Guard cancels "live fire" exercises

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended all live fire exercises on the Great Lakes indefinitely, in response to concerns over whether the activity poses a threat to the lakes' environment. 


Coast Guard calls off live fire training plan on Great Lakes

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