Updated at 2:46 p.m., Monday, November 20, 2006
December court hearing set in Stryker brigade dispute
By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Army had asked the judge to lift a temporary injunction issued by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision last month. The appeals court ruled that the Army violated federal environmental laws by not considering other locations for the Stryker 2nd brigade training.
Ezra said the matter was important enough to allow three groups opposed to the training a chance to get more information about the Army's proposal to proceed with six Stryker training projects. The judge, however, urged both sides to come up with an agreement on what the Army must produce.
Ezra scheduled a hearing for Dec. 18 on the Army's training request. He said he'll issue a ruling shortly after the proceedings.
The request is opposed by three Hawaiian and environmental groups, who sued the Army in 2004. They contend the Army did not comply with federal environmental laws before embarking on the transformation of the brigade into a Stryker unit.
Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.
