Inhofe, Fallin praise permanent restoration of surplus equipment programs

Inhofe, Fallin praise permanent restoration of surplus equipment programs Tulsa World:

On July 2, the DOD announced that it would suspend the programs that allowed for the transfer of federal surplus equipment to state and local agencies because the equipment did not meet current emissions regulations set by the EPA. On July 9, the DOD and EPA reached an agreement that would allow local fire and law enforcement agencies to continue receiving the equipment but would require the DOD to retain title of the equipment.

On Wednesday, the DOD announced that it would fully and permanently restore the programs and allow for the state and local agencies to obtain and maintain the titles for the equipment.

"This most recent development will restore the programs to their original operations and processes without the excessive red tape," Inhofe said. "Both the Department of Defense and Environmental Protection Agency were very responsive to me and my staff."

Each year, Oklahoma fire departments receive and rely on $13 million to $15 million worth of surplus equipment from the DOD. The cost of the new vehicles falls between $150,000 and $200,000, but the departments are able to take these surplus vehicles and equip them for as little as $30,000.

"Oklahoma's rural fire departments rely on military surplus equipment to help protect lives and property," Fallin said in a statement. "I am pleased that the federal government has reversed course on what would have been a senseless discontinuation of an important program."