Thinking of buying a Military truck? Might want to do it now...

[patracy]

Because apparently after DECADES of releasing equipment, the EPA has had the DoD stop sales of military vehicles. The interesting part is some examples that have been halted met emission standards for civilian vehicles.

I question this move, even with as inefficient as government can be, the decades of sales should have caught this long ago. I feel as though there's a political strongarm happening. Perhaps along the lines of the lead smelting in the states to affect ammo.

Below is a post from OK forestry services that is the first public admission to what's going on behind the scenes.

http://www.forestry.ok.gov/Home/p/5...3/PostID/950220/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=LwA%3d

Rural fire departments across Oklahoma and the nation will be devastated by an agreement between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which stops making available excess DoD vehicles that are critical to rural fire departments’ ability to fight wildland fires.


Through two long-standing federal excess property programs, Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) and Firefighter Property program (FPP), Oklahoma Forestry Services has been able to assist rural fire departments by providing no-cost military trucks that are then re-manufactured into wildland engines and water tenders through its Rural Fire Assistance Program. Without access to the vehicles and other equipment, many rural fire departments will find it difficult to operate, as commercial trucks are cost prohibitive for most departments. Currently there are 8,812 vehicle and pieces of equipment, valued at over $150 million, being utilized by Oklahoma’s rural fire departments.


The stoppage decision by the US Army Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM) is based in an old agreement between the DoD and EPA aimed at reducing emissions. Under the agreement, vehicles not meeting EPA emission standards would be destroyed instead of sold. It is unclear why the agreement is being enforced at this time.


“This action will ultimately result in increased exposure of communities to loss of life and property associated with wildfire, as well as increased fire suppression costs,” said George Geissler, State Forester and Director, Oklahoma Forestry Services. “The greenhouse gas emissions associated with the vehicles are marginal at best compared to emissions of an uncontrolled wildfire.”


Local fire departments are the first to respond to most to most wildfires. In many states, including Oklahoma, local departments are first on the scene for more than 75% of all wildfires . Quick initial response protects lives, property and reduces fire suppression costs for local, state and federal entities.


Oklahoma Forestry Services is working with state and federal officials, the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service to gather more information and seek a long term solution to resolve the issue and make this equipment available.


Oklahoma Forestry Services, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry, is committed to conserving, enhancing and protecting the forest resources of Oklahoma for present and future generations. To learn more visit www.forestry.ok.gov or call 405-522-6158.

Unless this is reversed or they lighten up on the current listing of vehicles, you can forget getting any more military trucks. At least none that won't be on demil or engine-less.

 

[patracy]

Bumping this up again. If you have time, please write your representatives. All because the EPA wants to show it's might, they're going to end up costing all the tax payers tons of money in lost revenue from surplussing this equipment. Wanna know how bad it really is? The BAE plant in texas was literally finishing up MRAPs at $1M+ per unit price tags. To end up having to cut them up before even being issued to sell as scrap. So that $1M hunk of steel costs us tax payers $997,000 to turn into scrap metal.

I have a close emotional connection to it though. This is a hobby of mine. This clout of the EPA also will mean you can forget seeing these military trucks in parades or any functions to honor our vets.

 

[bulletpaluza]

This is truly sad

 

[Joab]

And to think of how much stuff we left in Iraq...................... I am sure ISIS will be more than happy to make sure they are all kept up to EPA standards LOL