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Blackwater withdraws plans for camp in Potrero
By Miriam Raftery
The Alpine Sun
POTRERO — Blackwater has backed out of
its plan to build a private military and law enforcement
training camp on an 824-acre former chicken ranch in Potrero,
adjacent to national forest and wilderness areas. Formal
withdrawal of the project application ends a year-and-a-half
long battle between the private military contractor and
residents who mobilized widespread opposition to the
controversial proposal. Protest rallies against the project drew
national and international media attention.
Opponents had argued that the project would cause
noise, traffic, groundwater and environmental problems that
would adversely affect this small, rural community. Citizens
ultimately recalled all five members of the Potrero Planning
Group who cast advisory votes favoring the Blackwater project
and elected five anti-Blackwater representatives to the board.
The new board had not yet reconsidered that vote when
Blackwater withdrew its proposal, which would had been
ultimately determined by the County Board of Supervisors.
“I’m still in shock,” said Potrero Planning Group
member Jan Hedlun, the lone planner initially opposed to the
proposal, which would have included 11 firing ranges, an
emergency vehicular training track, bunkhouses and commando-type
training facilities. “I haven’t felt this happy since October
2006,” she said, adding, “Hallelujah!”
Blackwater West vice president Brian Bonfiglio advised
the county planning department in a letter dated March 7 that
Blackwater is withdrawing its application for a major use permit
and has decided not to pursue plans for a training camp in
Potrero.
“Although our project would have brought a great
benefit to San Diego County — providing local, state and federal
law enforcement with access to low-cost superior training
facilities while bringing much-needed jobs to the area — the
proposed site plan simply does not meet our business objectives
at this time,” the letter stated.
In an e-mailed response to questions, Bonfiglio
revealed that decibel levels were, “in excess of what the county
noise ordinance allowed for on the east property line only.”
Blackwater’s withdrawal announcement came just one day
after Stop Blackwater organizer Raymond Lutz issued a press
release announcing his candidacy for the 77th Assembly District.
Lutz is founder of
www.stopblackwater.net, a site established originally to
oppose Blackwater’s Potrero project.
Bonfiglio has denied that community opposition played
any role in the company’s decision to nix the project. But
others disagree.
“I think it’s a combination of the EIR/EIS coming up,”
said Hedlun, referring the project’s environmental impact report
and statement, “as well as the problems they are having because
of Iraq, and then the opposition. I think it was everything — a
culmination of all factors.”
Congressional hearings into Blackwater’s activities in
Iraq have raised allegations that the contractor killed innocent
Iraqi civilians without provocation and revealed questions about
lack of accountability for private military contractors, among
other issues. Blackwater officials assert that they retained
tight control of its guards and even fired some 122 guards in
Iraq due to improper conduct, according to the Associated Press.
Gordon Hammers, recalled Chair of the Potrero Planning
Group, pointed out that the recalled planners had added a
contingency to their approval, requiring that the project pass a
noise test.
“I think this showed the wisdom and knowledge of the
old board,” he said in an e-mail to this publication. “Making
Blackwater a political surrogate on President Bush and the war
was very destructive to our community and much to do about
nothing… The system worked and Blackwater was unsuccessful.”
Newly elected Potrero Planning Group chair Carl Meyer
hailed Blackwater’s withdrawal as “great news” in an interview
with the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I think Potrero will start to
rejoice tonight,” he added. “We’ll have a party.”
With Blackwater gone from the local scene, Lutz pledged
support for Potrero residents and others in East County now
battling another perceived threat: The Sunrise PowerLink, SDG&E’s
proposed plan for high-voltage power line towers.
“The Alternative Route D will impact many of the same
people who would be impacted by the Blackwater West project,” he
observed, adding that public comment remains open on that
project until mid-April.
Lutz praised efforts by Potrero residents as well as
environmental groups, peace organizations, Congressman Bob
Filner, journalists who reported the news, and protesters at
Blackwater’s other facilities in North Carolina and Illinois who
helped draw attention to controversies involving the private
military contractor.
“The decision by Blackwater to stay out of Potrero is
an impressive victory for our community and shows that
grass-roots organizations can still make a huge impact in our
world,” Filner said on Tuesday. “I hope that the example set by
the Potrero Planning Group, local organizations, vigilant
community members and elected officials will encourage other
communities to work together to refuse land for dangerous
mercenary training facilities.”
A Stop Blackwater online forum soon received e-mails
praising local residents for defeating Blackwater, which author
Jeremy Scahill has dubbed `the world’s most powerful mercenary
army.’
“Great job! It gives us hope here in Illinois. May
Blackwater North be next!” wrote Don Kenney with the Clearwater
Project to Stop Blackwater in Illinois.
Christian Stalberg, organizer of Blackwater Watch in
North Carolina, where Blackwater is headquartered, also sent
congratulations.
“You all have worked hard and never gave up and it paid
off,” he wrote. “We here in North Carolina still have this
mercenary pestilence headquartered in our backyard… Don’t forget
those of us here in North Carolina and in Illinois who are still
fighting the good fight,” he added, urging local citizens to
keep informed at
http://blackwaterwatch.net.
Asked whether Blackwater has plans to apply elsewhere
to open a training facility, Bonfiglio replied, “I don’t have
any information to provide you on additional facilities other to
say that I’m looking forward to speaking with our company
President next week on what the company’s business plans are for
what remains our core business for the past 10 years —
training.”
Lutz pledged to keep a “close watch” on Blackwater’s
next move. “This is a great challenge for our nation, not just
Potrero,” he concluded. “We must Stop Blackwater and the
blossoming of privatized military of all kinds.”
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