[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NO MORE NAVY BASES ON FAULT LINES

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                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2009

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I recently introduced legislation, H.R. 
740, intended to prevent the Department of Defense from building new 
bases and facilities along seismic fault lines.
  In San Diego, California, the Department of the Navy is planning a 
mixed-use development along the downtown waterfront that will 
incorporate not only a new Navy headquarters, but also business, 
commercial, and housing elements. It has come to my attention that the 
land in question is within the Uniform Building Code (UBC) Seismic Zone 
4.
  My bill requires the lease for this development to be revoked unless 
the Secretary of the Navy determines that seismic activity would not 
have any significant impact on any portion of the proposed development. 
My bill would also extend this requirement to other leases on which no 
substantial construction has already begun.
  In my view, it is only reasonable to require a scientific review of 
this issue before construction begins. We should not allow the 
Department of Defense to build new bases on fault lines.

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