Eco-terror sparks anxiety

Builders on guard against environmental radicals

By Andrew LePage -- Bee Staff Writer

Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Already beset by thieves and vandals who target construction sites, builders across the state are now working with the FBI to defend against eco-terrorism.

"Vandalism and theft have been going on for many years - Sacramento is a hotbed for that. But this word 'terrorism' is new to our vocabulary," says Jim Lambert, an executive with the Sacramento Builders Exchange, an association of commercial property contractors. "We're just starting to get geared up on this issue."

On Monday, arsonists claiming to be from the Earth Liberation Front ignited seven firebombs at a 110-unit, partially completed apartment complex in Amador County. The Sutter Creek blaze marked the third time such devices had been found at construction sites in the region's foothills in less than two months.

The vandals said they were connected to ELF in the other two incidents as well. ELF is thought to be a collection of individuals who espouse anarchist philosophies and oppose development they believe hurts the environment.

Three unexploded bombs were found Dec. 27 at a home under construction in the Twelve Bridges community in Lincoln, and five unexploded devices were discovered Jan. 12 at an office building under construction in Auburn.

"We have stepped up our security for that reason," says Russ Davis, vice president for project development at Elliott Homes of Folsom, which has not been targeted. He said there has been an increase in vandalism and theft at Elliott projects in the last few months, something noticed before the ELF-related incidents.

The Construction Industry Crime Prevention Program, based in Sacramento, sent out a packet of information Tuesday to guide its 300 Northern California members on identifying eco-terrorist activity and securing job sites.

"I want to emphasize that this will not be the last one (eco-terrorist strike)," said Vicki Schlechter, the program's executive director. "This pattern is far from over in this area. It's just a miracle no one's been hurt or killed."

Schlechter said she's tracked about eight arson cases at new construction in the Sacramento region over the past four years that appear to be the work of eco-terrorists. Typically, the fires occur where newly built homes encroach on undeveloped areas and back up to a field.

Schlechter said Sacramento's growth areas are being targeted for the same reason as other sprawling regions, such as Southern California, the Northwest, Arizona and New Mexico.

"It's always where there's a rapidly expanding population surging out onto areas that haven't been built on before," she said, adding that she's followed eco-terrorism nationally. "That's a common factor."

Schlechter said Sacramento's national recognition as a growing and increasingly expensive housing market also is helping fuel such an extreme growth backlash.

Angel Armstrong, a special agent in the FBI's Sacramento office, said a representative of the agency's Joint Terrorism Task Force has met with some local builders and law enforcement agencies to discuss ways of securing construction sites and will continue to hold such meetings. She said the FBI hopes surveillance by builders - either through cameras or security guards - could help nab the arsonists.

John Orr, head of the Sacramento-area Building Industry Association, said the FBI will soon hold workshops in Sacramento and with 10 other regional builder associations statewide.

"They'll be dealing with ways to recognize suspicious activity, what preventive measures can be taken, who to report incidents or suspicious activity to, and practical steps that can be taken to make construction sites more secure," Orr said.

Builders use roving security guards, cameras, lighting, fences and other means to protect job sites.

While some builders might be beefing up security, Larry Nelson, an account executive with Construction Protective Services in Sacramento, said he's yet to see a spike in demand caused by eco-terrorism concerns.

"Each builder is looking at this and trying to calculate their odds of being the next one," Nelson said. "They realize there are a lot of sites out there, and it's possible someone else will get hit, but they realize their specific odds on any given site aren't very high."

No one was injured in the Sutter Creek apartment fire Monday. A spokesman for the owner, the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians, estimated it caused more than $100,000 in damage.

Someone wrote "We will win - ELF" in red spray paint on a metal storage unit at the complex, where a security guard was on duty at the time.

Rich Hoffman, director of community relations for the Jackson Rancheria band, said many in the tribe are "bewildered" by the arson at their Sutter Creek apartment complex.

"The project had gone through a number of environmental processes, and the tribe has bent over backward to mitigate any environmental concerns," Hoffman said. "To be honest, there just wasn't a lot of opposition to the project locally. ... And it's something that's really needed here in Amador County."

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The Bee's Andrew LePage can be reached at (916) 321-1065 or alepage@sacbee.com.