Eberhart confirmed to head NorthCom/ Environment study comes back

WASHINGTON - Establishment of Northern Command in Colorado Springs got a double boost Thursday when the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Gen. Ed Eberhart to lead the effort and Capitol Hill got word there are no environmental impediments to putting the command at Peterson Air Force Base.

"This keeps us on track for getting NorthCom stood up by October," said Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

"Northern Command is crucial to our national security," said Allard, who made Eberhart's confirmation one of the last items taken up in the Senate before its July Fourth recess.

Eberhart, 55, assumed command of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command in February 2000.

Northern Command will be responsible for the continental United States, Canada, Mexico and portions of the Caribbean and waters 500 miles off all U.S. shores.

Eberhart will continue as NORAD commander.

Allard said his office received word Thursday from the Pentagon the environmental report is complete and "is positive."

"All it needs now is to go to the secretary of defense and he needs to sign off on it. And I think its approval is imminent at this point."

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