Sludge Watch ==> 80 Mayors oppose US Guard Plan for Great Lakes Weapons Training

[Maureen Reilly]

A group of mayors from 80 Great Lakes cities in Canada and the United
States called on the U.S. Coast Guard Monday to drop plans for
offshore weapons training on the lakes.

fyi-janet

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061114.wlakeguns1
114/BNStory/International/home

Posted AT 12:55 AM EST ON 14/11/06

Great Lakes mayors call for stop to weapons training

Associated Press

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - A group of mayors from 80 Great Lakes cities in
Canada and the United States called on the U.S. Coast Guard Monday to
drop plans for offshore weapons training on the lakes.

The Coast Guard released the proposal to create 34 machine-gun ranges
on the Great Lakes in August. The firing ranges would be designed for
a weapon that can shoot 10 lead bullets a second. The agency has said
it must train its crews to handle new, more powerful M240-B machine
guns.

Some critics say the exercises would turn the lakes into a military
zone, endanger boaters and others who use the lakes and potentially
poison fish and other aquatic life with lead and other toxic metals
found in bullets.

Toronto Mayor David Miller opposed the plan.