WASHINGTON, D.C., August 28, 2001 - Greenpeace and several Alaskan environmental and nuclear disarmament groups filed a lawsuit today to halt construction of a controversial facility in Fort Greely, Alaska that would be used to launch missiles to test President Bush's proposed missile defense plan. The lawsuit filed by Natural Resources Defense Council, alleges that the Department of Defense failed to complete a federally mandated environmental impact statement for construction of the Star Wars facility at Fort Greely, as well as other sites in Alaska, Hawaii, the continental U.S. and the Marshall Islands. Ground clearing at Fort Greely is scheduled to begin shortly.

"President Bush's attempts to engage Star Wars here in Alaska are not just immoral but his plans may be illegal," said Melanie Duchin, Greenpeace Nuclear/Climate Campaigner in Alaska. "Alaskans or any body else who cares about the planet will not sit by while this administration threatens Alaska's environment with this program."

Representatives from the Anchorage-based plaintiffs, including Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Alaska Action Center, Alaska Public Interest Research Group and Greenpeace will hold a press conference at 11:00 a.m. (Anchorage Time) to discuss the lawsuit and the dangers of the proposed facility in Fort Greeley.

The Fort Greely lawsuit comes just one day before Greenpeace activists will appear in a Los Angeles federal court for a hearing arising from a peaceful protest at Vandenberg Air Force Base during the missile test on July 14, 2001. During the scheduled hearing, attorneys for some of the defendants will file a motion to lift travel restrictions. The international activists involved in the peaceful protest have been restricted from travel outside of the southern California area until the trial currently set for September 25, 2001.

"In Greenpeace's 30 year history we have never had a defendant not show up in court so to say that these individuals are flight risks is outrageous," said Matt Stembridge, Greenpeace Nuclear Disarmament Campaigner. "These defendants are looking forward to their day in court when the dangers of Bush's Star Wars program will become apparent."

CONTACT:
Carol Gregory 202-319-2472; 202-251-3998 (cell);
Melanie Duchin (Alaska Office), 907-277-8234; 907-227- 2700 (cell)

Learn More:
Stop Star Wars, Not Peaceful Protest (feature story)