United States General Accounting Office

GAO Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee

on National Security, International

Affairs, and Criminal Justice, Committee

on Governmental Reform and Oversight,

House of Representatives

August 1995 MILITARY BASES

Case Studies on

Selected Bases Closed

in 1988 and 1991

GAO/NSIAD-95-139

GAO United States

General Accounting Office

Washington, D.C. 20548

National Security and

International Affairs Division

B-261073 

August 15, 1995

The Honorable William H. Zeliff, Jr.

Chairman, Subcommittee on National

 Security, International Affairs,

 and Criminal Justice

Committee on Governmental Reform

 and Oversight

House of Representatives

Dear Mr. Chairman:

As part of an earlier review of 37 bases closed by the first two base

realignment and closure rounds, we reported in late 1994 on expected

revenues from land sales, resources requested from the federal

government, and issues delaying reuse planning.1

 As requested in your

letter of March 21, 1995, we collected more recent information on reuse

planning and implementation at the 37 bases. Specifically, we are

providing updated summaries on the planned disposal and reuse of

properties, successful conversions, problems that delay planning and

implementation, and assistance provided to communities. We are also

including a profile of each of the 37 installations in appendix III.

Results in Brief Under current plans, over half of the land will be retained by the federal

government because it (1) is contaminated with unexploded ordnance,

(2) has been retained by decisions made by the base realignment and

closure commissions or by legislation, or (3) is needed by federal agencies.

Most of the remaining land will be requested by local reuse authorities

under various public benefit transfer authorities or the new economic

development conveyance authority. Little land will be available for

negotiated sale to state and local jurisdictions or for sale to the general

public.

Reuse efforts by numerous communities are yielding successful results.

Military airfields are being converted to civilian airports. Hundreds of jobs

are being created at some bases that more than offset the loss in civilian

jobs from closures. New educational institutions are being established in

former military facilities, and wildlife habitats are being created that meet

1

Military Bases: Reuse Plans for Selected Bases Closed in 1988 and 1991 (GAO/NSIAD-95-3, Nov. 1,

1994).

Page 1 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

wildlife preservation goals while reducing the Department of Defense’s

(DOD) environmental cleanup costs.

Some communities are experiencing delays in reuse planning and

implementation. Causes of delays include failure within the local

communities to agree on reuse issues, development of reuse plans with

unrealistic expectations, and environmental cleanup requirements.

The federal government has made available over $350 million in direct

financial assistance to communities. DOD’s Office of Economic Adjustment

has provided reuse planning grants, the Department of Labor has provided

job training grants, and the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded

airport planning and implementation grants. In addition, grants from the

Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration are

assisting communities in rebuilding or upgrading base facilities and

utilities and are helping communities set up revolving loan funds that can

be used to attract businesses to closed bases.

Background Among the federal statutes that affect the reuse process, four are of

particular importance: (1) the base realignment and closure acts of 1988

and 1990, (2) the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of

1949, and (3) the 1987 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act

(McKinney Act). Amendments to these acts enacted within the past year

are leading to ongoing changes in reuse planning and implementation at

closing bases.

The Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and

Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of

1990—collectively referred to as the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)

acts—are the two statutes that authorize the Secretary of Defense to close

military bases and dispose of property. Title XXIX of the National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 amended the BRAC Acts to enable

local redevelopment authorities to receive government property at no

initial cost if the property is used for economic development.

The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 requires

disposal agencies to provide DOD and other federal agencies an

opportunity to request property to satisfy a programmed requirement.

Property may be conveyed at no cost under various public benefit

discount programs, sold for not less than the appraised fair market value

Page 2 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

through negotiated sale to state governments or their instrumentalities, or

sold at a competitive public sale.

Surplus property can be made available to providers of services to the

homeless as provided for by the McKinney Act. At the time of our 1994

report, the McKinney Act assigned such providers higher priority than

local communities when conflicts over reuse planning for surplus property

at military bases occurred. However, the Base Closure Community

Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act of 1994 amended the BRAC

acts and the McKinney Act to incorporate homeless assistance requests

into the community reuse planning process and to eliminate the higher

priority given to requests for property at bases undergoing realignment

and closure.

The information contained in this report reflects the June 1995 status of

property disposal plans at 37 of the 120 installations closed by the 1988

and 1991 closure commissions (see fig. 1).

Page 3 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

Figure 1: Bases Reviewed From BRAC 1988 and 1991

1988


1991

Wurtsmith


AFB Army MTL

Pease AFB

Warminster


NAWC

Philadelphia


NS/NH/NSY

Ft. Devens

Davisville


NCBC

Woodbridge


ARF

Myrtle


Beach


AFB

Loring AFB

Grissom


AFB

Chanute


AFB

Eaker AFB

Lowry AFB

Williams AFB

England


AFB

Bergstrom AFB

Chase NAS

Lexington AD

Puget Sound


NS


(SandPoint)

Long Beach NS/NH

Tustin MCAS

Presidio of SF

Moffett NAS

Fort Ord

Ft. Wingate

Cameron Station

Richard-Gebaur ARS Jeff. Proving


Ground

Ft. Sheridan

Ft Ben


Harrison

George AFB

Norton AFB

Rickenbacker


Sacramento AD AGB Mather AFB

Castle AFB

Legend

AD—Army Depot; AFB—Air Force Base

AGB—Air Guard Base; ARF—Army Research Facility

ARS—Air Reserve Station; MCAS—Marine Corps Air Station

MTL—Materials Technology Laboratory; NAS—Naval Air Station

NAWC—Naval Air Warfare Center; NCBC—Naval Construction Battalion Center

NH—Naval Hospital; NS—Naval Station; NSY-Naval Shipyard

Page 4 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

Status of Base

Disposal

About three fifths of the property at the 37 closing military bases will be

retained by the federal government because it is contaminated with

unexploded ordnance, has been retained by decisions made by the BRAC

commissions or by legislation, or is needed by federal agencies. The

remaining two fifths of the property is available for conversion to

community reuse. Communities’ plans for this property involve a variety of

public benefit and economic development uses. Little property is planned

for negotiated sale to state and local jurisdictions or for public sale, as

shown in figure 2. (See app. I for a summary of property disposal plans.)

Page 5 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

Figure 2: Planned Disposal of Property

at 37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and

1991 Rounds

17% • Property requested by federal

agencies (32,344 acres)

20% • Public benefit conveyances

(37,268 acres)

12% • Economic development

conveyances (23,633 acres) •

6%

Undetermined (12,110 acres)

•

4%

Public sale (6,849 acres)

12%•

Mandatory retention by federal

agencies (22,154 acres)

•29%

Unexploded ordinance (55,509

acres)

Property unavailable for reuse decisions

While the federal government plans to retain about 58 percent of the

property at closing bases, only 17 percent has been requested to satisfy

federal agency needs. About 29 percent is contaminated with unexploded

ordnance and will be retained by the federal government because the cost

of cleanup and environmental damage that would be caused by cleanup

are excessive. Another 12 percent of the property has been either retained

per either BRAC decisions or legislation. An example of property retained

per a BRAC decision would be the 100-acre parcel at Fort Benjamin

Page 6 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

Harrison, Indiana, for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service facility.

An example of property retained by legislation would be the 1,480-acre

Presidio of San Francisco, California, which was transferred to the

National Park Service.

Of the 58 percent, the Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service

and Bureau of Land Management are to receive about 42 percent of the

property. Much of the property is contaminated with unexploded

ordnance. DOD will retain about 13 percent to support Reserve, National

Guard, Defense Finance and Accounting Service facilities, and other active

duty missions. Other federal agencies will receive about 3 percent of the

property for such uses as federal prisons and national parks. (See app. II

for a summary of federal uses.)

Communities also are planning to use about 20 percent of the base

property for various public benefits. The largest public benefit use is for

commercial airport conversions, which will total about 14 percent under

current plans. About 4 percent is to go to park and recreation use, the

second largest public benefit use. Plans call for transferring another

2 percent of the property to such public benefit uses as education,

homeless assistance, and state prisons.

Communities are planning to acquire about 12 percent of the property

under economic development conveyances, and DOD plans to sell about

4 percent of the property either through negotiated sales to state and local

jurisdictions or through direct sales to the public. Communities have not

determined how the remaining 6 percent of the property should be

incorporated into their reuse plans.

Land sales for all BRAC closures totaled $138.8 million as of June 1995. The

sale of 641 acres of developed land at Norton Air Force Base, California, to

the local redevelopment authority for $52 million under an economic

development conveyance is the largest sale to date. The 1989 sale of the

Kapalama Military Reservation, Hawaii, to the state of Hawaii for

$38.5 million is the next largest sale. When we last reported, land sales

totaled $69.4 million. The largest increase in sales has been to local reuse

authorities under the new economic development conveyance authority,

which allows for no-cash downpayment terms and up to 15 years to pay.

Page 7 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

Successful

Conversions

Overall, progress is being made in converting properties at the closing

bases we reviewed to civilian use. Communities are creating new airport

facilities, jobs, education and job training centers, and wildlife habitats.

(See app. III for a more detailed discussion of each installation’s

conversion progress.)

Converting military airfields to civilian airports is a goal at most

communities that have bases with closing airfields. For example, the city

of Austin, Texas, is converting Bergstrom Air Force Base’s airfield and

facilities into a new municipal airport. The Federal Aviation

Administration has provided over $110 million toward the conversion.

Buildings are being demolished to build an additional runway, while

design work is underway on the conversion, which is scheduled for

completion in 1998.

DOD officials believe that one meaningful measure of base conversion

success is in the number of jobs created. The 37 bases will have lost 

54,217 civilian jobs when they are all closed. To date, 25 of the bases have

closed. At these 25 bases, 29,229 jobs were lost. So far, 8,340 jobs have

been created. (See app. IV for a summary of each community’s success at

creating jobs.)

Community efforts to create jobs have been a key component of economic

recovery strategies in a number of locations. Successful efforts in a few

communities have led to the creation of more jobs than were lost due to

closures.

• At England Air Force Base, Louisiana, the community has attracted 

16 tenants that have created over 700 jobs replacing the nearly 700 civilian

jobs lost as a result of the base’s closure. The largest tenant has hired 

65 employees to refurbish jet aircraft. Another large tenant has hired 

58 people to operate a truck driving school. (See p.44.)

• At Chase Naval Air Station, Texas, newly constructed state prison facilities

and several small manufacturers have created over 1,500 jobs, a net

increase of 600 jobs over the level of civilian employment by the Navy.

(See p. 38.)

• At Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire, a commercial airport, an

aircraft maintenance complex, a government agency, and a biotechnology

firm are among the 41 tenants that have created over 1,000 jobs at the

base, over twice the 400 civilian jobs lost. (See p. 86.)

Page 8 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

Several communities have begun developing or planning centers for higher

education and job training. In some instances, these efforts have involved

pooled efforts by local schools and state institutions and agencies.

• At Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, a consortium of Colorado colleges and

the Denver public school system are providing educational and job

training opportunities. Currently, 80 classes with a total of 800 students

are in session at the former base. (See p. 73.)

• At Fort Ord, California, classes at the new California State University,

Monterey Bay, are scheduled to begin in the fall of 1995. About 

700 graduate and undergraduate students are expected to enroll in the

university’s fall class. (See p. 51.)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to set aside land at several bases

for preservation as natural wildlife habitats. In some locations, the

preservation of wildlife habitats reduces the level of environmental

cleanup, particularly where unexploded ordnance is involved.

• At Jefferson Proving Ground, Indiana, the Army plans to transfer about

47,500 acres to the Fish and Wildlife Service for a wildlife refuge, which

could potentially save the Army billions of dollars in costs otherwise

needed to remove unexploded ordnance. (See p. 63.)

• At Woodbridge Army Research Facility, Virginia, all 580 acres are to be

transferred to the Service for inclusion in the Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge.

Service plans for the property envision showcasing habitat and wildlife not

routinely seen so close to a metropolitan area and providing

environmental education opportunities. (See p. 109.)

Early experiences indicate that a new form of conveyance authority called

an economic development conveyance can be mutually beneficial to both

the federal government and local communities. This new authority calls

for (1) DOD to convey property to a local redevelopment authority for the

purpose of creating jobs when it is not practicable to obtain fair market

value at the time of the transfer and (2) DOD and the local authorities to

negotiate the terms and conditions of the conveyances. In qualifying rural

areas, conveyances are at no cost to the communities. This new authority

benefits local redevelopment authorities by allowing them to take

possession of properties with no initial payment so that they can

implement their job creation and economic development plans. The

federal government benefits by eliminating the costs of maintaining and

Page 9 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

protecting idle properties and by generating revenues to help pay for base

realignment and closure costs.

Several communities are planning to use this new conveyance mechanism

to obtain property for economic development. Two economic

development conveyance agreements—one at Norton Air Force Base,

California, and another at Sacramento Army Depot, California—have been

successfully negotiated.

• The local redevelopment authority and the Air Force have agreed that for

a 641-acre parcel at the Norton Air Force Base, the local reuse authority

will pay the government 40 percent of gross lease revenues and 

100 percent of gross land sales revenues up to a total of $52 million, the

estimated fair market value of the property. If the $52 million has not been

paid in full at the end of 15 years, the local redevelopment authority is

obligated to pay the Air Force the balance. The local redevelopment

authority is negotiating or has entered into 7 leases that it projects will

result in about 2,250 new jobs by next year. (See p. 83.)

• At the Sacramento Army Depot, the city of Sacramento has acquired 

371 acres of the 487-acre depot from the Army. Under the terms of the

economic development conveyance agreement, the Army will be paid

$7.2 million either at the end of 10 years or when the property is sold by

the city, whichever is sooner. The city has negotiated a lease with Packard

Bell that creates a projected 2,500 to 3,000 jobs that nearly offset the 

3,200 lost from the depot’s closure. (See p. 100.)

Problems

Encountered

Successful conversion of military bases to civilian uses involves various

parties reaching a consensus on realistic reuse plans. But, before the plans

can be implemented, necessary environmental cleanup actions must have

been taken by DOD.

In numerous communities, the failure to reach a consensus on reuse issues

has caused delays in the development of acceptable reuse plans.

• At George Air Force Base, California, reuse was delayed about 2 years

while lawsuits were settled between the city of Adelanto and the Victor

Valley Economic Development Authority over which jurisdiction should

have the reuse authority. (See p. 58.)

• At Tustin Marine Corps Air Station, California, homeless assistance groups

are requesting about 400 family housing units and other buildings. The

local reuse authority believes that 100 family housing units and some

Page 10 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

single-residence, multiple-unit buildings would provide a balanced living

environment and that the request for additional facilities conflicts with

other aspects of its reuse plan. At its request, the local reuse authority was

granted a delay in DOD’s disposal process to give it more time to negotiate

with the homeless assistance groups. Negotiations continue between the

two groups to reach a consensus. (See p. 102.)

• At Puget Sound Naval Station (Sand Point), Washington, the city of Seattle

and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe are promoting competing reuse plans.

The city plans to use the property for housing, parks and recreation, and

educational activities. The tribe plans to use the property for economic

development and educational activities. As long as 2 years ago, the Navy

asked both parties to work on a joint reuse plan. However, no consensus

on reuse has been reached by the two parties. DOD’s disposal decisions on

the property are pending. (See p. 93.)

Early efforts likewise indicate that even after a consensus is achieved,

conversions are unlikely to prove successful if the resulting plans

incorporate unrealistic reuse expectations. Some base conversions involve

reuse expectations that may be unrealistic given their rural or relatively

unpopulated geographic locations. Early experiences suggest that bases

with airfields in remote locations pursuing reuse plans involving expanded

airport operations are most prone to these types of expectations. Reuse

plans for the airfields at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, Eaker Air

Force Base, Arkansas, and Loring Air Force Base, Maine, have been largely

unsuccessful because the new tenants attracted are not capable of

generating enough revenue to support the costs of airport operations.

Environmental cleanup requirements delay the implementation of reuse

plans. In February 1995, we reported that the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980

prohibits transferring property to nonfederal ownership until all necessary

environmental cleanup actions are taken.2

 However, much of the property

is in the early stages of cleanup. Cleanup progress has been limited

because the study and evaluation process is lengthy and complex and,

with existing technology, take time. The National Defense Authorization

Act for Fiscal Year 1994 allowed long-term leases of property prior to

cleanup but few had been signed as of January 1995.

2

Military Bases: Environmental Impact at Closing Installations (GAO/NSIAD-95-70, Feb.23, 1995).

Page 11 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

Community

Assistance

Federal agencies have provided about $368 million to the 37 selected BRAC

1988 and 1991 communities to assist with the conversion of military bases

to civilian reuse. Agencies have awarded grants for such purposes as reuse

planning, airport planning, and job training, as well as for infrastructure

improvements and community economic development. (See app. V for a

summary of the federal assistance provided to each community.)

• The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded the most assistance,

providing $151 million to assist with converting military airfields to civilian

use.

• DOD’s Office of Economic Adjustment has awarded $85 million to help

communities plan the reuse of closed BRAC 1988 and 1991 bases.

• The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration

has awarded $85 million to assist communities with infrastructure

improvements, building demolition, and revolving loan funds.

• The Department of Labor has awarded $46 million to help communities

retrain workers adversely affected by closures.

Scope and

Methodology

We updated information that we had obtained from 37 installations closed

by the 1988 and 1991 Base Closure Commissions. These 37 bases contain

190,000 of the 250,000 acres designated for closure by the 1988 and 1991

rounds, or about 76 percent of the total. To gather the most recent reuse

information and to identify any changes since our earlier report, we

interviewed base transition coordinators, community representatives, and

DOD officials.

We obtained up-to-date federal assistance information from the Federal

Aviation Administration, the Economic Development Administration, the

Department of Labor, and the Office of Economic Adjustment to

determine the amount and type of assistance the federal government

provided to the BRAC 1988 and 1991 base closure communities.

For each base, the profiles provide (1) a description of size and location;

(2) important milestone dates; (3) a reuse plan summary and a golf course

reuse plan, which discusses the status of reuse implementation; (4) jobs

lost and created; (5) federal assistance; and (6) environmental cleanup

status. The information collected represents the status of reuse planning

and actions as of June 1995.

We did not obtain written agency comments. However, we discussed the

report’s contents with DOD officials, and their comments have been

Page 12 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
B-261073 

incorporated where appropriate. Our review was performed in accordance

with generally accepted government auditing standards between October

1994 and June 1995.

Unless you publicly announce its contents earlier, we plan no further

distribution of this report until 30 days after its issue date. At that time, we

will send copies to the Secretaries of Defense, the Army, the Navy, and the

Air Force; the Directors of the Defense Logistics Agency and the Office of

Management and Budget; and other interested parties. We will also make

copies available to others upon request.

Please contact me at (202) 512-8412 if you or your staff have any questions

concerning this report. Major contributors to this report are listed in

appendix VI.

Sincerely yours,

David R. Warren

Director, Defense Management

 and NASA Issues

Page 13 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Contents

Letter 1

Appendix I 

Planned Property

Disposals at 37 Bases

Closed in the 1988 and

1991 Rounds

18

Appendix II 

Summary of Federal

Uses of Property at 

37 Bases Closed in the

1988 and 1991 Rounds

22

Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned

Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the

1988 and 1991 Rounds

27

Army Materials Technology Laboratory, Massachusetts 27

Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas 29

Cameron Station, Virginia 31

Castle Air Force Base, California 32

Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois 35

Chase Naval Air Station, Texas 38

Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center, Rhode Island 40

Eaker Air Force Base, Arkansas 42

England Air Force Base, Louisiana 44

Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana 46

Fort Devens, Massachusetts 48

Fort Ord, California 51

Fort Sheridan, Illinois 54

Fort Wingate Depot, New Mexico 56

George Air Force Base, California 58

Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana 61

Jefferson Proving Ground, Indiana 63

Lexington Army Depot, Kentucky 65

Long Beach Naval Station/Naval Hospital, California 67

Loring Air Force Base, Maine 70

Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado 73

Mather Air Force Base, California 75

Page 14 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Contents

Moffett Naval Air Station, California 78

Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina 81

Norton Air Force Base, California 83

Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire 86

Philadelphia Naval Station/Naval Hospital/Naval Shipyard,

Pennsylvania

88

Presidio of San Francisco, California 90

Puget Sound Naval Station (Sand Point), Washington 93

Richards-Gebaur Air Reserve Station, Missouri 95

Rickenbacker Air Guard Base, Ohio 98

Sacramento Army Depot, California 100

Tustin Marine Corps Air Station, California 102

Warminster Naval Air Warfare Center, Pennsylvania 104

Williams Air Force Base, Arizona 107

Woodbridge Army Research Facility, Virginia 109

Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan 111

Appendix IV 

Summary of Jobs

Created at 37 Bases

Closed in the 1988 and

1991 Rounds

114

Appendix V 

Cash Grants Given to

Facilitate Reuse Plans

at 37 Bases Closed in

the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

116

Appendix VI 

Major Contributors to

This Report

118

Related GAO Products 119

Page 15 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Contents

Tables Table I.1: Planned Property Disposals at 37 Bases Closed in the

1988 and 1991 Rounds

18

Table IV.1: Summary of Jobs Created at 37 Bases Closed in the

1988 and 1991 Rounds

114

Table V.1: Cash Grants Given to Facilitate Reuse Plans at 37

Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991 Rounds

116

Figures Figure 1: Bases Reviewed From BRAC 1988 and 1991 4

Figure 2: Planned Disposal of Property at 37 Bases Closed in the

1988 and 1991 Rounds

6

Abbreviations

BRAC Base Realignment and Closure

DOD Department of Defense

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Page 16 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Page 17 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix I 

Planned Property Disposals at 37 Bases

Closed in the 1988 and 1991 Rounds

Table I.1: Planned Property Disposals

at 37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and

1991 Rounds (Acres)

Federal

Base DODa

FWS/

BLMb

Other 

federal

Army Materials Technology Laboratory

Bergstrom Air Force Base 330

Cameron Station

Castle Air Force Base 660

Chanute Air Force Base 8

Chase Naval Air Station

Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center 380 10

Eaker Air Force Base

England Air Force Base

Fort Benjamin Harrison 244

Fort Devens 5,177 890 265

Fort Ord 760 15,009

Fort Sheridan 301

Fort Wingate Army Depot 13,000 8,812

George Air Force Base 900

Grissom Air Force Base 1,398

Jefferson Proving Ground 47,500

Lexington Army Depot 4

Long Beach Naval Station/Naval Hospital 592 17

Loring Air Force Base 414 6,000 670

Lowry Air Force Base 115

Mather Air Force Base 57 20

Moffett Naval Air Station 130 1,440

Myrtle Beach Air Force Base

Norton Air Force Base 112 33

Pease Air Force Base 230 1,095

Philadelphia Naval Station/Naval Hospital/Naval

Shipyard 550 1

Presidio of San Francisco 1,480

Puget Sound Naval Station (Sand Point) 4 10

Richards-Gebaur Air Reserve Station 238

Rickenbacker Air Guard Base 367

Sacramento Army Depot 80

Tustin Marine Corps Air Station 10

Warminster Naval Air Warfare Center 100

Williams Air Force Base 11 1

Page 18 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix I 

Planned Property Disposals at 37 Bases

Closed in the 1988 and 1991 Rounds

Public benefit transfers

l Homeless Airports

Parks/

recreation Education Other

Economic 

development 

conveyance Market sales Undetermined Total acres

7 30 37

2,886 3,216

8 64 93 165

0 8 1,581 18 132 13 365 2,777

1,181 147 62 734 2,132

285 3,376 96 3,757

0 289 512 89 1,280

1,690 484 65 1,044 3 3,286

2,282 2,282

4 1,550 553 150 2,501

5 29 2,950 9,311

84 750 2,605 338 2,681 404 5,094 27,725

46 103 4 174 84 712

21,812

0 34 2,300 63 1,471 300 5,068

901 423 2,722

2,764 5,000 55,264

210 566 780

7 26 62 178 57 932

0 18 2,380 9,482

47 175 220 22 711 576 1,866

0 28 2,883 1,462 95 1,171 5,716

0 7 1,577

1,247 224 12 1,559 702 3,744

3 4 1,267 24 10 24 641 2,115

2,305 27 600 4,257

30 6 13 902 1,502

0 1,480

0 18 82 21 16 151

178 12 428

1,648 2,015

28 8 371 487

38 103 219 1,142 108 1,620

7 296 67 296 74 840

42 2,547 657 16 769 4,043

(continued)

Page 19 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix I 

Planned Property Disposals at 37 Bases

Closed in the 1988 and 1991 Rounds

Federal

Base DODa

FWS/

BLMb

Other 

federal

Woodbridge Army Research Facility 580

Wurtsmith Air Force Base 2

Total acreage 24,608 79,892 5,507

Percent of total 12.96 42.08 2.90

Page 20 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix I 

Planned Property Disposals at 37 Bases

Closed in the 1988 and 1991 Rounds

Public benefit transfers

l Homeless Airports

Parks/

recreation Education Other

Economic 

development 

conveyance Market sales Undetermined Total acres

580

7 1,700 15 10 5 466 2,205

7 458 26,445 7,888 2,063 414 23,633 6,849 12,110 189,867

0 0.24 13.93 4.15 1.09 0.22 12.45 3.61 6.38 100.00

aDepartment of Defense.

bBureau of Land Management/Fish and Wildlife Service.

Page 21 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix II 

Summary of Federal Uses of Property at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Office of the Secretary of Defense Activities

Defense Finance and

Accounting Service

Chanute Air Force Base, Ill. 8 acres

Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. 100 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Fort Ord, Calif. 8 acres

Lexington Army Depot, Ky. 4 acres

Loring Air Force Base,

Maine

14 acres

Lowry Air Force Base, Colo. 108 acres, also houses Air

Reserve Personnel Center

(BRAC recommendation)

Norton Air Force Base, Calif. 34 acres

Ballistic Missile Defense

Office

Fort Wingate, N. Mex. 13,000 acres

Page 22 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix II 

Summary of Federal Uses of Property at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Army Activities

Active Forces Fort Ord, Calif. 740 acres of housing and

support buildings to

support other nearby

military bases (BRAC

recommendation)

Fort Sheridan, Ill. 15 acres containing Army

cemetery (BRAC

recommendation)

Reserve Forces Davisville Naval

Construction Battalion

Center, R.I.

380 acres (Camp Fogarty)

Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. 144 acres

Fort Devens, Mass. 5,177 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Fort Ord, Calif. 12 acres

Fort Sheridan, Ill. 104 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Richards-Gebaur Air

Reserve Station, Mo.

184 acres

Rickenbacker Air Guard

Base, Ohio

35 acres

Sacramento Army Depot,

Calif.

61 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Tustin Marine Corps Air

Station, Calif.

10 acres (also for Air

National Guard and Coast

Guard)

Williams Air Force Base,

Ariz.

11 acres

National Guard Forces Loring Air Force Base,

Maine

400 acres

Mather Air Force Base, Calif. 31 acres

Rickenbacker Air Guard

Base, Ohio

129 acres

Page 23 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
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Summary of Federal Uses of Property at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Navy/Marine Corps Activities

Active Forces Fort Sheridan, Ill. 182 acres of housing to

support nearby military base

Long Beach Naval Station,

Calif.

592 acres to shipyard

(BRAC recommendation)

Philadelphia Naval

Shipyard, Pa.

550 acres to be preserved

by Navy for possible use in

future (BRAC

recommendation)

Richards-Gebaur Air

Reserve Station, Mo.

54 acres for Marine Corps

Warminster Naval Air

Warfare Center, Pa.

100 acres, flight simulator

and laboratory

Reserve Forces Sacramento Army Depot,

Calif.

19 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Air Force Activities

Active Forces Lowry Air Force Base, Colo. 7 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Mather Air Force Base, Calif. 26 acres containing a

hospital to support nearby

military base

Moffett Naval Air Station,

Calif.

130 acres of housing to

support nearby military

base (BRAC

recommendation)

Norton Air Force Base, Calif. 78 acres of housing to

support nearby military

base (BRAC

recommendation)

Reserve Forces Bergstrom Air Force Base,

Tex.

330 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Grissom Air Force Base, Ind. 1,398 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

National Guard Forces Pease Air Force Base, N.H. 230 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Rickenbacker Air Guard

Base, Ohio

203 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Page 24 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
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Summary of Federal Uses of Property at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Department of Interior Activities

Bureau of Indian Affairs Loring Air Force Base,

Maine

620 acres for reuse by

Micmac Indians

Bureau of Land Management Fort Ord, Calif. 15,009 acres, (including

8,009 acres of unexploded

ordnance)

Fort Wingate, N.Mex. 8,812 acres returned to

public domain (legislative

requirement)

Fish and Wildlife Service Fort Devens, Mass. 890 acres for wildlife refuge

Jefferson Proving Ground,

Ind.

47,500 acres for wildlife

refuge (contains

unexploded ordnance)

Loring Air Force Base,

Maine

6,000 acres for wildlife

refuge

Pease Air Force Base, N.H. 1,095 acres for wildlife

refuge

Puget Sound Naval Station

(Sand Point), Wash.

4 acres containing a

laboratory

Woodbridge Army

Research Facility, Va.

580 acres for wildlife refuge

(legislative requirement)

Wurtsmith Air Force Base,

Mich.

2 acres containing a

building

National Park Service Presidio of San Francisco,

Calif.

1,480 acres (legislative

requirement)

Philadelphia Naval Station,

Pa.

1 acre containing a building

Department of Commerce Activities

National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration

Puget Sound Naval Station,

(Sand Point), Wash.

10 acres

National Weather Service Williams Air Force Base,

Ariz.

1 acre

Page 25 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
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Summary of Federal Uses of Property at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Other Federal Activities

Department of Agriculture

(Forest Service)

Norton Air Force Base, Calif. 33 acres

Department of Justice

(Bureau of Prisons)

Castle Air Force Base, Calif. 659 acres for prison

Fort Devens, Mass. 245 acres for prison

medical facility

George Air Force Base,

Calif.

900 acres for prison

Department of Health and

Human Services (Public

Health Service)

Davisville Naval

Construction Battalion

Center, R.I.

10 acres

Department of Labor

(Employment and Training

Administration)

Fort Devens, Mass.

Long Beach Naval Station,

Calif.

20 acres for Job Corps

center 

17 acres for Job Corps

center

Loring Air Force Base,

Maine

50 acres for Job Corps

center

Department of Transportation

(Federal Aviation

Administration)

Castle Air Force Base, Calif. 1 acre

Department of Veterans

Affairs

Mather Air Force Base, Calif. 20 acres for new clinic and

nursing home

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Moffett Naval Air Station,

Calif.

1,440 acres (BRAC

recommendation)

Page 26 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
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Army Materials

Technology

Laboratory,

Massachusetts

Base description: The laboratory is located on 37 acres in Watertown on

the Charles River, west of Boston. Its mission has been research and

development of materials and manufacturing technology testing. Closure

of this industrial facility, used by the Army since 1816, avoids major

renovation costs.

Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Estimated date of military mission termination: September 1995.

Estimated date of base closure: September 1995.

Summary of reuse plan: The community reuse plan calls for 30 acres to be

developed for industrial, commercial, and residential use. The remaining 

7 acres, comprising the commander’s mansion and grounds, are to be a

public benefit conveyance through the National Park Service for a park

and historic monument. The mixed-use plan emphasizes preserving the

integrity of historic buildings and landscapes and providing greater public

access to the riverfront. A homeless provider expressed interest in some

base property, but no application was filed.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: The local reuse authority will likely request that

the 30 acres planned for development be conveyed through an economic

development transfer. Local officials believe an economic development

transfer will give the local authority greater assurance that the property is

developed in accordance with the reuse plan than if the Army sells the

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Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

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property directly to a private developer. There is some question whether

the laboratory meets one of the criteria for such a conveyance—adverse

economic impact of the closure on the region—since it is small and

located in a large metropolitan area. However, the plan does emphasize

the job-creation criterion for economic development transfers by calling

for the creation of 1,500 new jobs.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 540.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grant $185,000

Economic Development Administration grant 262,500

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $447,500

The Economic Development Administration grant to the city of Watertown

was to provide technical assistance to determine the most practical reuse

for the facilities and to do a market feasibility study.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Radionuclides, heavy metals, petroleum, oil, solvents,

pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Estimated cleanup cost: $110 million.

Cleanup at the facility is moving ahead gradually, with the radiological

cleanup mostly complete.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: December 1997.

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Bergstrom Air Force

Base, Texas

Base description: Bergstrom is located on 3,216 acres on the southeast

outskirts of Austin. The city bought the land for the government in 1941,

retaining an equitable interest. Following its activation in 1942, Bergstrom

was the home of troop carrier units. From 1966 to 1992, it was under the

Tactical Air Command. Base closure legislation specified that the base

would be turned over to the city.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: September 1992.

Date of base closure: September 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: The city of Austin passed a referendum in

May 1993 to support establishment of a new municipal airport, and it has

decided that Bergstrom will be used for that purpose. Approximately 

2,562 acres will revert back to the city. This property, along with an

additional 324 acres conveyed to the city upon closure, will be used for the

new airport. The Air Force will keep 330 acres as a cantonment area for

the Reserves. The conveyance to the city will include the golf course and

other property that can be leased to help support airport operations. The

city plans to move 60 to 70 of the base’s 719 housing units downtown

where they are to be sold to low-income home buyers. The city plans to

demolish most of the rest of the units to build a new runway.

Page 29 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
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Golf course: The golf course is being conveyed to the city to help support

airport operations.

Implementation status: The transfer of property to the city is being delayed

until the base cleanup is complete. Meanwhile, DOD has entered into a

long-term $1 lease with the city for the base. While DOD is not getting

revenue from the lease, it is saving on operation and maintenance funds

since the city has assumed responsibility for base maintenance, which,

according to the site manager, averages about $9 million a year. The target

date for opening the airport is November 1998.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 942.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 0.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $200,000

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 110,841,266

Department of Labor job training grants 1,228,260

Total $112,269,526

The Federal Aviation Administration grants are for demolition of existing

structures, supplemental environmental studies, and construction of new

airport facilities.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Domestic solid wastes, pesticides, paints, paint containers,

incineration wastes, construction debris, petroleum/oil/lubricants,

low-level radioactive waste, synthetic oils, oil/water separator wastes,

silver, soaps, degreasers, air filters, battery acids, asphalt, and lead.

Estimated cleanup cost: $53.2 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: December 1999.

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Cameron Station,

Virginia

Base description: Cameron Station consists of 165 acres of administrative

and warehouse space as well as park land in Alexandria. The park land

includes a 6-acre lake. The government first purchased the land at the start

of World War II for use as a general depot. It is a subinstallation of Fort

Myer. Cameron Station is one of the few bases on the closure list that DOD

considers to have high market value, but asbestos removal, demolition,

and infrastructure costs affect the projected revenues.

Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Estimated date of military mission termination: September 1995.

Estimated date of base closure: September 1995.

Summary of reuse plan: The plan calls for about 64 acres, including the

lake and its perimeter, to be a public benefit transfer through the

Department of Interior to the city for park and recreation and easements.

Two homeless assistance providers are to receive about 8 acres of the

property for an 80-bed shelter and a food redistribution center. The

remaining 93 acres are to be sold to a private developer who will likely

demolish the buildings and construct residential, commercial, and retail

facilities. Cameron Station has no housing units.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: The 93 acres for development were advertised for

bids in January 1995, and the winning bid of $33.2 million was awarded in

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May 1995. Property transfer is scheduled for May 1996 if the environmental

clearances have been completed by that time.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 4,355.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment grants $0

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grant 250,000

Total $250,000

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, petroleum

products, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, and herbicides.

Estimated cleanup cost: $7 million.

Cleaning up groundwater contamination could take 30 years, but base

officials anticipate that the property can be sold once remediation

measures are in place.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: September 1995.

Castle Air Force Base,

California

Base description: Castle is located on 2,777 acres in the agricultural San

Joaquin Valley, 6 miles from the city of Merced and 100 miles southeast of

Sacramento. First activated in December 1941 to provide flight training, its

primary mission since the 1950s has been B-52 and KC135 crew training.

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Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: October 1994.

Estimated date of base closure: September 1995.

Summary of reuse plan: The Federal Bureau of Prisons will receive 

659 acres for prison construction. The Bureau will preserve a portion of

this acreage, containing seasonal wetlands and endangered species, as a

prison buffer.

The plan calls for 1,581 acres to be an airport public benefit transfer. The

local reuse authority hopes that attracting aviation-related businesses will

be a stimulus to economic development for the area. The Federal Aviation

Administration will get about 1 acre of property in conjunction with the

airport. Additionally, the plan calls for a public benefit transfer of 

132 acres for public school and community college programs, 18 acres for

parks and recreation, and 13 for health facilities. In October 1994, the

Department of Health and Human Services approved homeless assistance

providers’ applications for about 8 acres of property, including 8 family

housing units.

The plan calls for the remaining 365 acres to be sold based on the fair

market value. This acreage includes 188 acres of residential areas, which

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may be used for a senior citizens cooperative and starter homes for

first-time home buyers.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: Implementation of reuse plans, including the

design and construction of the federal prison, has been delayed due to

difficulties related to air quality conformity, environmental cleanup,

infrastructure upgrading, and leasing. The property disposition plans were

approved in January 1995.

Approval of the environmental impact statement was delayed about 

4 months because of air quality issues. The Navy’s plans to expand

operations at nearby Lemoore Naval Air Station raised concerns about air

emissions from future development and aircraft traffic at Castle.

The local utility company determined that the base gas distribution system

should be abandoned. The local reuse authority is negotiating with this

company and the Bureau of Prisons to install a new gas line to the prison

site to provide gas service to tenants that may be attracted to the base in

the interim. Questions concerning upgrading or replacing other aging base

utility systems are also being addressed.

The local authority at Castle has been having difficulty attracting

businesses that will support airport operations. Castle is competing with

other closing airfields for a limited number of potential aviation-related

businesses.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 1,149.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $920,706

Economic Development Administration grants 4,500,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 2,143,000

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $7,563,706

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The Economic Development Administration grants included $3.5 million to

the city of Atwater to connect the base sewer system to the city’s system

and $1 million to Merced County to establish a revolving loan fund to be

used to induce businesses to locate at Castle by providing a source of

financing. The Federal Aviation Administration grants included $115,000

for an airport feasibility study and master plan and $2,028,000 for airport

facilities and equipment.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Spent solvents, fuels, waste oils, pesticides, cyanide, and

cadmium.

Cleanup efforts have been hampered by delays in release of funds. Castle

has ground water contamination from an underground plume of

trichloroethylene and other volatile organic compounds.

Estimated cleanup cost: $146 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: October 1996.

Chanute Air Force

Base, Illinois

Base description: Chanute is located on 2,132 acres adjacent to the city of

Rantoul, which has annexed the base property. The base was constructed

in 1917 and used initially for pilot training and as a storage depot for

aircraft engines and paint. Since World War II, it has served as a training

installation for aerospace and weapon system support personnel.

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Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Date of military mission termination: July 1993.

Date of base closure: September 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: The plan primarily involves developing a civilian

airport and attracting aviation-related businesses, as well as other types of

economic development. A no-cost airport public benefit transfer of 

1,181 acres is planned once cleanup is completed. DOD will retain 8 acres

for a Defense Finance and Accounting center. Additionally, 147 acres will

be transferred to the local community for park and recreation use and 

62 acres to the University of Illinois for a research facility. The remaining 

734 acres, including the golf course and housing areas, will be sold once

cleanup is completed.

Golf course: The golf course was sold in March 1993 to the highest bidder

for $711,502, but the deed transfer has been delayed due to questions

involving environmental cleanup. Meanwhile, the purchaser is operating

the course on a no-cost prevention and maintenance lease.

Implementation status: While environmental cleanup is underway most of

the base property is being leased. Property sales have been negotiated for

some parcels, but deeds cannot be transferred until the parcels are

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Rounds

cleaned up or remediation is satisfactorily in place. Development has also

been hampered by utility system issues, such as the high cost to tenants

for unmetered service from the base’s steam heat system.

Despite such difficulties, the community has successfully attracted

businesses that have created jobs. A base official reported that about 

78 businesses have located at Chanute thus far. Since development cannot

be financed on short-term leases, the city is negotiating 55- and 99-year

leases, which can be converted into deed transfers when cleanup is

completed. The city has also used an Economic Development

Administration grant to finance building renovation and asbestos removal,

and one business is paying back the renovation cost through increased

rent.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 1,035.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 1,002.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $962,978

Economic Development Administration grants 2,500,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 937,830

Department of Labor job training grants 3,000,000

Total $7,400,808

Economic Development Administration grants to Rantoul provided

$1 million to establish a revolving loan fund to assist businesses locating at

Chanute, $400,000 for planning, and $1.1 million for a road improvement

project to improve traffic access to base facilities. Federal Aviation

Administration grants included $194,930 for planning, an environmental

audit, and a utility survey and $742,900 for resurfacing a runway.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Household and industrial waste, spent solvents, fuels, and

waste oils.

Estimated cleanup cost: $43.5 million.

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Despite repeated environmental studies and surveys, the Environmental

Protection Agency has determined that more testing will be needed to

determine the extent of groundwater contamination and identify

remediation measures. Test wells will be drilled off the base to determine

whether the contamination is occurring naturally or the result of base

operations.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: September 1997.

Chase Naval Air

Station, Texas

Base description: This 3,757-acre base is located 5 miles east of Beeville in

southern Texas, about 60 miles northwest of Corpus Christi. The base

included the main air station, a 96-acre housing tract adjacent to the town,

and an auxiliary airfield in Goliad County 30 miles away.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: October 1992.

Date of base closure: February 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: Under the plan, 96 acres of housing were sold to

the local reuse authority, and the state received a 285-acre public benefit

transfer for a state prison. Local authorities requested the remaining 

3,376 acres, including the auxiliary field, as economic development

conveyances. While the plan calls for using the airfield as an airport, local

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Rounds

officials are requesting an economic development conveyance rather than

an airport public benefit conveyance because they believe that an

economic development conveyance will allow them more latitude in their

future actions than the more restrictive airport conveyance would.

Golf course: The property containing the golf course is being used to

construct a state prison.

Implementation status: All the property has been leased, sold, or

transferred, except for three sites that have been retained by the Navy

until cleanup is complete. The state prison facilities are in operation,

resulting in an increase in jobs for the area. In addition, according to a

base closure official, the local authority has eight or nine subleases with

small businesses. In a letter to the Navy, we raised questions concerning

the propriety of the negotiated sale of 396 family housing units for

$168,000, which is $424 a unit, to the local authority. The units are being

rented for $400 to $650 per month each.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 914.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 1,520.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $1,105,411

Economic Development Administration grant 4,162,500

Federal Aviation Administration grant 134,000

Department of Labor job training grant 875,151

Total $6,277,062

The Economic Development Administration grant to the Beeville/Bee

County Economic Development Authority provided funds to improve the

wastewater treatment facility, roads, and housing areas. The Federal

Aviation Administration grant was for developing an airport master plan.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Acids, heavy metals, paints, polychlorinated biphenyls,

petroleum fuels and hydrocarbons, photographic chemicals, and solvents.

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Estimated cleanup cost: $5.4 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: June 1995.

Davisville Naval

Construction

Battalion Center,

Rhode Island

Base description: The center is located on 1,280 acres on the shoreline of

Narragansett Bay in North Kingstown. Between 1939 and 1942, the Navy

constructed a naval air station and pier in the area. In 1974, the Navy

declared the air station surplus, and operations at the center were greatly

reduced. In response, the state established the Port Authority and

Economic Development Corporation to develop the area as a business and

industrial park, which did not meet initial expectations.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: March 1994.

Date of base closure: April 1994.

Summary of reuse plan: The plan calls for 380 acres to be retained by DOD

for the Army Reserves and 10 acres to be retained by the Public Health

Service. The Port Authority has requested an economic development

transfer of 512 acres. However, the Department of Interior, in June 1994,

requested 35 of the 512 acres on behalf of the Narragansett Indian tribe.

The outcome of this request is unclear even though the federal screening

process for the base was completed in May 1993.

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The Calf Pasture Point and Allen’s Harbor shoreline will be part of a

289-acre park and recreation public benefit transfer, which will go to

North Kingstown, the tribe, or a partnership of both. Included in this

transfer will be the gym and the yacht club, which the town will receive.

Use of the remaining 89 acres, which include open space and wetlands, is

undetermined.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: Although the Narragansett Indian tribe has a

representative on the local reuse committee, the committee opposes the

tribe’s request to obtain sovereignty over the property it is requesting. The

community wants to maintain zoning and land use jurisdiction and fears

that the tribe will establish a casino there as the tribe is attempting to do

on its reservation 25 miles away. Base closure officials are seeking a

clarification of the rights and priorities of Native Americans in the base

closure property screening process.

Property disposition is also awaiting the completion of the environmental

impact statement and the base cleanup plan. The community is urging the

Navy to provide additional assistance to demolish 160 to 170 unwanted

buildings. Thus far, the Navy has agreed to demolish 17 buildings it has

determined to be structurally unsafe.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 125.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 29.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grant $133,000

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $133,000

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

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Contaminants: Heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides,

petroleum-based hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds.

Estimated cleanup cost: $37.9 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: May 1998.

Eaker Air Force Base,

Arkansas

Base description: Eaker is located on 3,286 acres, with portions of the base

lying within the towns of Blytheville and Gosnell, about 68 miles

northwest of Memphis, Tennessee. The base is in an agricultural area in

the Mississippi River floodplain, 11 miles west of the river. It was activated

as an Army airfield in 1942, serving as an advanced flying school. It was

deactivated in 1945, and control of the land was transferred to the city of

Blytheville. It was reactivated in 1955 as an Air Force base and was used

for Strategic Air Command refueling tankers and jet fighter trainers.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: April 1992.

Date of base closure: December 1992.

Summary of reuse plan: The plan centers around developing a civilian

airport and attracting aviation-related businesses to support its operations.

The Air Force is conveying about 1,690 acres of base property for

airport-related activities, including 192 acres that reverted to the city of

Blytheville at closure. The plan also includes a public benefit transfer of

484 acres for park and recreation use, which include some archaeological

sites. The Presbytery of Memphis is interested in acquiring through an

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educational public benefit conveyance about 65 acres for an educational

program to aid underachieving students. The redevelopment authority will

likely receive 1,044 acres through an economic development conveyance

at no cost since the base is in a rural area. The Presbytery is interested in

using about 235 of the 1,044 acres that include base housing, retail

exchange and commissary buildings, and the hospital for a retirement

community and convention center. A chapel on 3 acres is to be sold.

Golf course: The golf course is currently being leased for an annual fee of

$19,000 plus maintenance. If the local authority and the Air Force agree on

an economic development conveyance for the remaining base property,

the course is to be included. Otherwise, the Air Force would like to sell the

course.

Implementation status: Questions remain about the viability of

establishing a civilian airport and attracting sufficient aviation-related

businesses to support it in a rural area. Nevertheless, the local airport

authority is negotiating a long-term lease for about 1,690 acres of airport

facilities. The local authority hopes the long-term lease will make locating

at Eaker more attractive to potential business tenants. The Air Force

continues to cover caretaker and maintenance costs for those portions of

the base not under lease, but it would like to terminate its caretaker

operations by 1997.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 792.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 106 (jobs related to caretaker

operations).

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $2,287,786

Economic Development Administration grant 1,962,600

Federal Aviation Administration grant 90,000

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $4,340,386

The Economic Development Administration grant to the

Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority provided funds to repair the

runway, taxiway, and ramps; to install instrument landing equipment; and

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to upgrade the airfield lighting system. The Federal Aviation

Administration grant was for developing an airport master plan.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Household and industrial waste, spent solvents, fuels,

waste oil, paints, pesticides, chromic acid, paint stripper, medical wastes,

lead acid, and nickel/cadmium batteries.

Estimated cleanup cost: $47 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: December 2000.

England Air Force

Base, Louisiana

Base description: England is located on 2,282 acres about 5 miles west of

Alexandria in central Louisiana. Constructed as a municipal airport, the

base was first leased to the Army Air Force at the onset of World War II. In

1949, the property was returned to the city, but with the outbreak of

hostilities in Korea in 1950, it was acquired by the Air Force. In 1955, the

Air Force began constructing permanent facilities at the base.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: June 1992.

Date of base closure: December 1992.

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Summary of reuse plan: The plan calls for the entire 2,282-acre base to be

an airport public benefit transfer to the local England Authority. All profits

from revenue-generating properties, including the golf course and family

housing, are planned to support airport operations.

Golf course: The golf course is included in the long-term lease and

provides revenue generation to the airport.

Implementation status: Local officials are optimistic that England’s

aviation-centered reuse plan will be successful, predicting that the

authority’s operations at England will be self-sustaining within 10 years.

The reuse plan calls for moving air carrier service from a small regional

airport nearby to England. The Federal Aviation Administration insisted

that it would only support one airport in the area. In July 1994, local

officials voted unanimously for moving air carrier service to England. The

Federal Aviation Administration has since approved the England plan, and

it now supports a public benefit transfer of all the property to support

airport operations. A long-term lease to the England Authority for the base

property was signed in March 1995, ending the Air Force’s responsibility

for funding about $2 million in operations and maintenance costs.

The England Authority has attracted 16 tenants to help support aviation

operations at England. Two weeks a month, for 10 months a year, the Joint

Readiness Training Center flies wide-bodied planes in and out with

military personnel for exercises at nearby Fort Polk. However, this lease

only produces five full-time jobs at England. Other tenants at England

include (1) a company that refurbishes jet aircraft, which employs 65; (2) a

trucking company, which operates a driver training school on base with 

58 jobs; (3) an operator for the golf course; (4) the local school district,

which leases an elementary school; and (5) a university conducting classes

on base. A state hospital will use the base medical facility to expand

charity care services.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 697.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 718.

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Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $2,174,047

Economic Development Administration grants 6,411,800

Federal Aviation Administration grant 149,850

Department of Labor job training grant 500,000

Total $9,235,697

The Economic Development Administration grants to the England

Economic and Industrial Development District were to construct a

concrete cargo pad, security fencing, and access control; rehabilitate

runways, taxiways, approach lighting, and signage; renovate an air

terminal building and a railway spur; and make access road improvements.

The Federal Aviation Administration grant was for developing an airport

master plan.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Household and industrial waste, spent solvents, fuels,

waste oil, paints, lead, pesticides, alkali, low-level radioactive waste,

chlorine gas, polychlorinated biphenyls, and medical waste.

Estimated cleanup cost: $42.1 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: December 1999.

Fort Benjamin

Harrison, Indiana

Base description: The base is located on 2,501 acres about 12 miles

northeast of downtown Indianapolis, near the city of Lawrence. It has

been used periodically as a training ground and an infantry garrison. It was

abandoned from 1913 to 1917. In 1947, it was declared surplus, but later

that same year it was returned to active status as a permanent military

post.

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Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Estimated date of military mission termination: October 1996.

Estimated date of base closure: October 1996.

Summary of reuse plan: DOD will retain 144 acres for use by the Reserves.

In addition, 100 acres containing the Defense Finance and Accounting

Service facility will be transferred to the General Services Administration.

The state will receive 1,550 acres as a public benefit transfer for a state

park. Homeless assistance providers will receive 4 acres, including a

building with six family housing units and a barracks. The Army plans to

sell the 150-acre golf course. The plan calls for the remaining 553 acres,

including the Harrison Village housing complex, to be an economic

development transfer. The community hopes to attract light industry.

Portions of this property have historic preservation and wetlands

considerations.

Golf course: The state originally requested that the golf course be included

as part of the public benefit transfer for the state park, but the Army has

decided to sell it. The state has made an offer for the golf course and the

Army is evaluating it.

Implementation status: The community submitted its reuse plan to the

Army in December 1994. Although the base will not close until

October 1996, most of the property will be available for reuse by

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October 1995. Base closure officials are hoping to conclude a master lease

by that time, which will facilitate the subleasing of properties as they are

cleaned up and made available.

The Army and the General Services Administration are coordinating to

obtain Office of Management and Budget approval for a no-cost transfer of

the Defense Finance and Accounting Service facility (Building #1) from

the Army to the General Services Administration. The transfer is expected

to take place October 1, 1995.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 4,240.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $471,923

Economic Development Administration grant 50,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 4,592,752

Total $5,114,675

The Economic Development Administration grant was to the state of

Indiana to plan for economic adjustment associated with the closure of the

base.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Petroleum products, heavy metals, volatile organic

compounds, and pesticides.

Estimated cleanup cost: $17.6 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: June 1998.

Fort Devens,

Massachusetts

Base description: Fort Devens is located on 9,311 acres near the town of

Ayer, about 35 miles northwest of Boston. It was created as a temporary

cantonment in 1917 for training soldiers from the New England area. In

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1921, it was placed in caretaker status and used for summer National

Guard and Reserves training. In 1931, it was declared a permanent

installation, and it was used during World War II as a reception center for

draftees. In 1946, it reverted to caretaker status, but again it became a

reception center during the Korean Conflict. It has remained an active

Army facility since that time.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Estimated date of military mission termination: September 1995.

Estimated date of base closure: March 1996.

Summary of reuse plan: About 68 percent of the base will be retained by

federal agencies. Under provisions designated by the 1991 BRAC

Commission, 5,177 acres will be retained by the Army for facilities and a

training area for Reserve components. The Fish and Wildlife Service will

receive 890 acres for a wildlife refuge. The Bureau of Prisons will receive

245 acres for a federal prison medical facility. The Department of Labor

will receive 20 acres for a Job Corps Center.

Two homeless assistance applications totaling 29 acres have been

approved. However, the local community may find alternative means to

meet these homeless requests. The remaining 2,950 acres will be an

economic development conveyance. A consortium of Indian groups has

expressed interest in one parcel for a cultural center and museum, but it

has not submitted a formal request.

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Golf course: A portion of the golf course and the adjacent hospital

property will be used for construction of the federal prison medical

facility. Plans call for a reconfiguration of the golf course to reestablish the

full 18 holes.

Implementation status: The community approved a final reuse plan in

December 1994. A final decision on property disposition by the Army is

expected in July 1995. An interim lease with one private company is in

place. The Army and the reuse authority are negotiating a master

lease/purchase agreement that mirrors the profit-sharing provisions of an

economic development conveyance. It calls for property that can be sold

to be sold and the remainder to be leased. The local authority would

receive 60 percent and the federal government 40 percent of net revenues

from subleases and sales.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 2,178.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $2,312,381

Economic Development Administration grants 1,625,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grant 2,000,000

Total $5,937,381

The Economic Development Administration grants to the state provided a

$750,000-revolving loan fund and $875,000 in technical assistance for

businesses locating at the base.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, petroleum

products, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, herbicides, and explosive

compounds.

Estimated cleanup cost: $49.4 million.

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Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: March 1998.

Fort Ord, California Base description: Fort Ord consists of 27,725 acres on the Monterey

Peninsula by the towns of Seaside and Marina, about 80 miles south of San

Francisco. About 20,000 acres of the base are undeveloped property,

which were used for training exercises. Since its opening in 1917, Fort Ord

has served as a training and staging facility for infantry troops. From 1947

to 1975, it was a basic training center.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: September 1993.

Date of base closure: September 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: The plan calls for DOD to retain 

760 acres: 740 acres of housing for military personnel remaining in the

area, 12 acres for the Reserves, and 8 acres for the Defense Finance and

Accounting System center. The Bureau of Land Management will receive

15,009 acres, which will be preserved from development, including 8,000

acres contaminated with unexploded ordnance.

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State, county, and city agencies will receive public benefit transfers of

2,605 acres for parks and recreation, including beaches and sand dunes.

California State University and the University of California will receive

2,681 acres as economic development conveyance to establish university

and research facilities. Included in the California State University

conveyance are 1,253 family housing units. Other educational institutions

will receive public benefit transfers totaling 338 acres for schools.

The city of Marina will be given the airport—a public benefit transfer of

750 acres. Homeless assistance providers are to receive 84 acres, including

196 family housing units, 35 single housing units, and other buildings. The

Army plans to negotiate a sale of the 404-acre parcel containing two golf

courses. The disposition of the remaining 5,094 acres has not been

determined, but it will likely include market sales, as well as additional

public benefit transfers.

Golf course: The Army’s main interest is that the revenues from the two

golf courses continue to support the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation

programs for military personnel remaining in the area. The Army is

negotiating an agreement with the city of Seaside under which the two

18-hole golf courses will be operated by the city. The agreement will

stipulate shared use by military personnel and the public. Army officials

reported that the Army intends to sell the golf courses to the city.

Proceeds from the sale would go to support the Morale, Welfare, and

Recreation programs. Enabling legislation has been introduced.

Implementation status: The transfer of property has been initiated. In

July 1994, the first phase of transfers to two universities took place. The

new California State University, Monterey Bay, received an initial 

630 acres. The university plans to open classes for an estimated 700

students in the fall of 1995. The University of California, Santa Cruz, also

received 949 acres in July 1994 to establish a research center. In

November 1994, 5 schools and 93 acres were transferred to the federal

sponsor, Department of Education, for deeding to the Monterey Peninsula

Unified School District.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 2,835.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 92.

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Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment grants $6,984,223

Economic Development Administration grants 19,592,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 155,700

Department of Labor job training grants 800,000

Total $27,531,923

The Office of Economic Adjustment provided nearly $2 million in planning

grants to help develop and implement the reuse plan. The Office also

provided $5 million to the city of Monterey to help establish a center for

international trade at Fort Ord in conjunction with the Monterey Institute

for International Studies. The center plans to develop the capacity and

resources for international marketing of technologies and applications

from university research programs being established at Fort Ord.

The Economic Development Administration provided $15 million to the

new California State University, Monterey Bay, to renovate buildings for

educational use and meet seismic and Americans with Disabilities Act

requirements. A university official estimated that an additional

$140 million would be requested from DOD over the next 10 years to

complete renovations. Monterey County received $1 million to establish a

revolving loan fund, and the city of Marina received $900,000 for road,

water system, and sewer improvements for an interim commercial

development project outside the base gate. In addition, the county and the

University of California, Santa Cruz, each received $750,000 for an

infrastructure, economic, and job development analysis. The university

also received $1.2 million to help establish its Science, Technology, and

Policy Center at the base.

The Federal Aviation Administration provided $88,200 to the local reuse

authority to complete an airport master plan for the reuse of the base

airfield and $67,500 for an environmental assessment of airport plans. The

Department of Labor provided $800,000 to fund an array of retraining and

reemployment services for workers affected by Fort Ord’s closure.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Petroleum wastes and volatile organic compounds.

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Estimated cleanup cost: $156.6 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: September 1998.

Fort Sheridan, Illinois Base description: Fort Sheridan is located on 712 acres of high-value

suburban land on the shores of Lake Michigan between Lake Forest and

Highland Park, 25 miles north of Chicago. Acquired in 1887, its major

mission initially was cavalry training. More recently, the fort served as

headquarters of the Nike missile antiaircraft defense systems in the

midwest. Its latest mission was administration and logistical support for

Army recruiting and Reserve centers in the midwest.

Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Date of military mission termination: May 1993.

Date of base closure: May 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: The Army originally proposed exchanging 

156 acres at the fort with the Equitable Life Assurance Society for about 

7.1 acres of land in Arlington, Virginia, where the Army wanted to build a

national Army museum. The local community supported this plan, but the

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Secretary of Defense rejected it as inappropriate to the base closure

process.

The local reuse committee has submitted a new reuse plan to the Army.

The Army plans to keep 104 acres for use by the Reserves and the existing

15-acre military cemetery. The Navy acquired approximately 182 acres,

consisting of 392 housing units, in January 1994 for $20 million. Three

homeless assistance providers were awarded approximately 46 acres,

including 106 family housing units and 36 single housing units.

The Lake County Forest Preserve District has requested the open space on

the shoreline, bluffs, and ravines (about 103 acres) as a public benefit

transfer for park and recreation use. The Department of Education has

approved two public benefit transfers, totaling 4 acres and including the

library and gymnasium, for educational use. The 174-acre golf course will

be sold. Disposition of the remaining 84 acres, including the historic

district, is undetermined. The reuse plan foresees residential and public

use for this property.

Golf course: Originally, the Forest Preserve District offered to purchase

the golf course along with the shoreline, bluffs, and ravines for $10 million.

At that time, the Army had a request from the Department of Veteran

Affairs for some of that property for a national cemetery. Therefore, the

Army turned down the offer from the district. When the Veteran Affairs’

offer fell through, district officials said they could not buy the property

because it failed to pass a local bond measure. Consequently, the district

requested the property through a public benefit transfer. However, the

Army notified the district that the golf course will be sold and opened

negotiations with the district regarding sale terms.

Implementation status: The Army now must decide on the public benefit

transfer requests. In turn, the reuse committee must decide whether to

form a local redevelopment authority and request the developable

property through an economic development conveyance or negotiated sale

or whether to have the Army sell the property directly to developers.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 1,681.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 18.

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Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $509,470

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $509,470

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds, polynuclear

aromatic hydrocarbons, thallium, and unexploded ordnance.

Estimated cleanup cost: $26.9 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: 1997 for surplus

property and 1999 for retained Navy/Army property.

Fort Wingate Depot,

New Mexico

Base description: Fort Wingate is located on 21,812 acres in northwest

New Mexico. The base is bordered by the Cibola National Forest on the

south and is within 10 miles of the city of Gallup to the west, the Navajo

Indian Reservation to the north, and the Zuni Indian Reservation to the

southwest. Additional Navajo Reservation land lies south of the National

Forest. Both tribes consider Fort Wingate to be part of their ancestral

lands. The base includes sites considered sacred by the Zunis, including

Fenced Up Horse Canyon, site of ancestral Anasazi ruins. The southern

portion of the base is also part of the watershed for the Zuni Reservation.

The depot is a subinstallation of Tooele Army Depot, and it has been used

for ammunition storage. There are more than 700 concrete ammunition

storage bunkers. Between 1963 and 1967, the base was used by White

Sands Missile Range to fire several Pershing missiles to test the missile’s

mobility and accuracy. Most of the property is undeveloped. Before the

Army acquired the property, it was public domain land. As such, it reverts

to the Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, when it is not

needed by DOD.

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Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Date of military mission termination: January 1993.

Date of base closure: January 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: DOD wants to retain approximately 13,000 acres for

7 years for use by the Ballistic Missile Defense Office for missile launching

activity in conjunction with the White Sands Missile Range. To retain this

land, either the Army would not include that portion of the base in its

relinquishment notice or the missile defense office would have to lease the

land from the Bureau of Land Management. Both the Navajo and Zuni

tribes oppose use of Fort Wingate for missile testing, and several federal

agencies have expressed environmental and land use concerns.

Any property not retained by DOD will revert to the Bureau. Once the Army

cleans up the contamination at Fort Wingate, the Bureau will consult with

other Department of Interior agencies concerning possible uses for the

property. The Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs has requested the

entire base to hold in trust on behalf of the two tribes. The tribes want the

land for preservation of sacred sites, watershed protection, economic

development, and use for other tribal programs. The city of Gallup

opposes the conveyance of Fort Wingate property to the Indians, and it

has indicated interest in a portion of the base for economic development.

The city has retained an attorney to challenge the requirement that the

property be relinquished to Interior when the Army’s need for it ceases.

Golf course: None.

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Implementation status: DOD tried to get officials from Gallup, McKinley

County, and the two Indian tribes to agree on forming a reuse committee

under its base closure rules and guidelines. However, Interior Department

and Bureau of Land Management officials maintain that this effort was

inappropriate because the property will revert to the Bureau and will be

handled under the Bureau’s authorities and rules. The missile defense

office competed an environmental impact study with a decision in

March 1995 to proceed with the proposed missile program. Meanwhile,

Interior is cooperating with DOD in facilitating a private company’s use of

some of the facilities to carry out a contract with the Army to deactivate

Army pyrotechnics, which will provide 25 to 30 jobs for this economically

depressed area.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 90.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Not available, property to be retained

by federal agencies.

Federal assistance: None.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Explosive compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls,

pesticides, heavy metals, asbestos, and lead-based paint.

Estimated cleanup cost: $22.5 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: Unknown.

George Air Force

Base, California

Base description: George is located on 5,068 acres between the towns of

Adelanto and Victorville in the Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles.

The base was first activated in 1941 as a pilot training location. It was

placed on standby status in 1945 and used for aircraft storage. In 1950, it

was reopened after hostilities began in Korea. During the Vietnam conflict,

the Air Force designated George as one of its major training bases for

fighter crews, and it continued as a fighter operations and training base

thereafter.

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Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Date of military mission termination: December 1992.

Date of base closure: December 1992.

Summary of reuse plan: Approximately 900 acres are to be transferred to

the Bureau of Prisons for a federal prison. About 2,300 acres will be an

airport public benefit transfer, and 63 acres will be conveyed under public

benefit transfers for schools. Homeless assistance providers will receive

34 acres, including 64 family housing units. Initially, the Air Force

designated the remaining acres, including the golf course and over 

1,500 family housing units, for negotiated or public sale. However, local

authorities are planning to request 1,471 acres of this property as an

economic development conveyance. The Air Force will dispose of the

300-acre golf course at a public sale.

Golf course: The Air Force plans to dispose of the golf course by

negotiated or public sale.

Implementation status: Reuse of George was delayed for 2 years due to a

jurisdictional dispute over reuse authority between the city of Adelanto

and the Victor Valley Economic Development Authority, which was

supported by Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia, and the county. Another

reason was differences in their reuse plans over the proposed size of the

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airport. The Air Force recognized the Victor Valley authority as the airport

authority and leased the 2,300-acre airport to the authority. Adelanto is

receiving some public benefit transfers for schools. Lawsuits between

Adelanto and the authority were settled in February 1995, and the

authority is proceeding with plans to attract tenants and create jobs.

Under the new provisions of the Base Closure Community Redevelopment

and Homeless Assistance Act of 1994, the community has until

September 1995 to incorporate plans for accommodating homeless needs

in its reuse plan, which must be completed before the Air Force can

consider an economic development conveyance request.

A chapel on 2 acres was sold to a local church for $510,000. In addition,

the Air Force is transferring the land for the federal prison and negotiating

the sale of the 295-acre golf course and a 3-acre parcel containing the

credit union.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 506.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 209.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $533,648

Economic Development Administration grants 6,525,000

Federal Aviation Administration grant 118,638

Department of Labor job training grant 1,000,000

Total $8,177,286

The Economic Development Administration grants were provided to the

Victor Valley authority to improve roads, the water system, the sewer

system, and the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration grant was

awarded for developing an airport master plan.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Petroleum/oils/lubricants, volatile organic compounds, and

heavy metals.

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Estimated cleanup cost: $75.8 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: December 1997.

Grissom Air Force

Base, Indiana

Base description: Grissom is located on 2,722 acres in an agricultural area

of central Indiana, about 6 miles southwest of Peru and 65 miles north of

Indianapolis. The base was established in 1942 as a naval air station and

was used as a training site throughout World War II. It was deactivated in

1946 and was reactivated as Bunker Hill Air Force Base in 1955. It is

currently home to an Air Reserve wing whose mission is air refueling

operations.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: July 1993 (active duty mission).

Date of base closure: September 1994.

Summary of reuse plan: According to the plan, the Air Force will retain

about 1,398 acres, including the airfield, for the Reserves and will transfer

901 acres as an economic development conveyance. The remaining 

423 acres, including the 1,128 family housing units, will be sold via a public

sale. A primary goal of the plan is to attract businesses and replace the

jobs lost due to the closure.

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Golf course: The 9-hole golf course is currently under interim lease to a

private operator through the local redevelopment authority. The reuse

plan calls for the land to be part of an economic development conveyance

and used for the development of light industry.

Implementation status: According to local officials, reuse efforts have

been hampered by a lack of specificity in the local reuse plan, delays in

property disposition decisions, and delays in negotiating a caretaker

agreement and leases. The final property decision has been delayed

pending the Air Force’s approval of the proposed size of the Reserve

cantonment area.

Despite these delays, some actions have been completed. The caretaker

agreement has been finalized, and a caretaker account has been

established and funded. The lease on the golf course has also been signed

and two more leases have been requested. The Air Force informed local

officials that lease processing procedures have been improved and leases

can now be processed within 120 days.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 807.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 28.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $1,139,528

Economic Development Administration grant 50,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grant 612,500

Total $1,802,028

The Economic Development Administration grant was awarded to the

State of Indiana to plan for mitigating the adverse effects associated with

the base’s closure.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Household and industrial waste, spent solvents, fuels,

waste oil, pesticides, lead, silver, munitions, and asbestos.

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Estimated cost of cleanup: $25.6 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: March 1998.

Jefferson Proving

Ground, Indiana

Base description: The base is located on 55,264 acres, mostly forest land,

near Madison in southeastern Indiana about 45 miles northeast of

Louisville, Kentucky. Over 50,000 acres are contaminated with unexploded

ordnance. The facility was constructed in 1941 and has been used over the

years to test ammunition and weapon systems. Most of the facility was

placed on standby status in 1946, reactivated in 1950, again placed on

standby in 1958, and reactivated in 1961.

Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Date of military mission termination: September 1994.

Estimated date of base closure: September 1995.

Summary of reuse plan: The Army plans to transfer about 47,500 acres to

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for preservation as a wildlife refuge for

migratory birds. Such an action would eliminate the need to cleanup the

unexploded ordnance, which could cost between $215 million and

$2 billion, depending on the level of cleanup. The three adjoining counties

want the remaining land conveyed to them for economic development.

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However, the International Union of Operating Engineers has proposed

purchasing about 5,000 acres of the property for a training center. The

union is offering to buy the property and do the environmental

remediation, since that would fit into the kind of training it plans for the

site. A plastics manufacturer has indicated interest in the same property.

Consequently, the Army is considering a market sale to the highest bidder

of the 5,000 acres, conveying the remaining 2,764 acres to the counties for

economic development.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: The Army issued an Invitation to Bid for 

4,320 acres of property not contaminated with unexploded ordnance.

Meanwhile, the local authority is submitting an economic development

conveyance request for the same property. The Army plans to have all the

property disposed of by September 30, 1995, when base closure funds for

operations and maintenance costs run out. Initially, disposal to non-federal

agencies would be through leases. Later, when cleanup requirements were

met, the property would be sold.

Army officials think that Jefferson Proving Ground will be a significant

base closure success story, due to the savings in cleanup costs made

possible by the property transfer to the Fish and Wildlife Service and due

to the envisioned economic development of the remaining property.

However, transfer of the property to the Wildlife Service faces several

obstacles. According to a base official, the Wildlife Service is concerned

about possible liability should someone enter the property and be injured

by the unexploded ordnance, and the Wildlife Service lacks money in its

budget to staff and maintain the preserve. Meanwhile, the Air National

Guard has asked the Air Force to request the property for an expanded

bombing and strafing area.

Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency has not agreed that no

environmental remediation is needed in the proposed wildlife refuge. The

Wildlife Service opposes remediation because the agency does not want

the habitat disturbed. The Environmental Protection Agency, however, is

considering whether to place the base on the National Priorities List,

which would require environmental remediation at the base. The Army

maintains that the unexploded ordnance is a safety problem, not a

hazardous waste problem. A joint committee is studying the issue. The

Environmental Protection Agency will likely require the Army to drill

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some wells to monitor subsurface, as well as surface water, for years to

come.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 387.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $329,500

Economic Development Administration grants 900,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 875,000

Total $2,104,500

The state of Indiana received a $50,000 Economic Development

Administration grant to plan for economic adjustment associated with

closure of the base. The Madison Chamber of Commerce received an

Economic Development Administration grant of $850,000 to construct a

new building in Madison for business incubator and technical training

programs. Former base employees will have priority in terms of starting

new businesses at the site.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Solvents, petroleum products, heavy metals, depleted

uranium, and unexploded ordnance.

Estimated cleanup cost: $10.9 million (assuming unexploded ordnance will

not have to be cleaned up).

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: May 1997.

Lexington Army

Depot, Kentucky

Base description: The depot is located on 780 acres, 10 miles east of

Lexington. It has 1.8 million square feet of covered storage space. It was

established in 1941, and it has been used to store radar and

communications equipment. Depot properties, including buildings and the

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golf course, have deteriorated since the closure decision was announced

and the Army curtailed its maintenance.

Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Estimated date of military mission termination: September 1995.

Estimated date of base closure: September 1995.

Summary of reuse plan: The Army is retaining one building located on 

4 acres of land for a Defense Finance and Accounting center. The state of

Kentucky has signed a 7-year lease for the rest of the property, and it is

covering the cost of renovation and repair instead of lease payments to the

Army. The state plans to request 210 acres as a public benefit transfer for

park and recreational use, and it is requesting that the remaining 566 acres

of the property be conveyed to it through an economic development

conveyance.

Golf course: The deterioration of the 9-hole golf course has made it

unusable as a golf course. In determining the course’s fair market value,

the appraisal was modified to categorize it as unimproved ground. The

state plans to request the golf course as part of the public benefit transfer

for park and recreation purposes.

Implementation status: The state appropriated $1.8 million to rehabilitate

deteriorating buildings and cover operating costs. Current operations by a

military contractor at the base are providing about 500 jobs. The state also

has a sublease with the Kentucky National Guard for training-related use

of several buildings and some base land. Under a DOD contract, the state is

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using some buildings for processing military equipment being brought

back from Europe, and it is negotiating to sublease additional space to

several other organizations.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 1,131.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $100,000

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $100,000

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds, heavy metals,

polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, and herbicides.

Estimated cleanup cost: $25 million.

Base officials are awaiting Environmental Protection Agency and state

approval of remediation plans.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: To be determined.

Long Beach Naval

Station/Naval

Hospital, California

Base description: The naval station and hospital, as well as several housing

areas and a golf course, are located on 932 acres at various sites in the

Long Beach area. Portions of the property lie within the Long Beach city

limits, while other portions are in nearby Los Angeles county towns. The

Navy began acquiring property for the station in 1935. In 1946, the station

was chartered to provide welfare, recreation, and social facilities, in

addition to maintaining facilities for the operation and berthing of

tugboats, barges, and similar vessels. In 1964, the U.S. government

purchased the land for the hospital from the city of Long Beach, and the

hospital was commissioned in 1967.

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Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: Hospital—March 1994 and Naval

Station—September 1994.

Date of base closure: Hospital—March 1994 and Naval

Station—September 1994.

Summary of reuse plan: The Navy plans to transfer 592 acres, including the

main station, the golf course, and over 1,000 family housing units, to the

naval shipyard. It also plans to transfer 17 acres to the Department of

Labor for a Job Corps training center. The Long Beach school district

received 62 acres as an educational public benefit transfer in

September 1994. California State University, Long Beach, requested an

economic development conveyance of 30 acres, which include 294 family

housing units. The Navy expects that 148 acres will be conveyed for future

expansion of Long Beach and Los Angeles port facilities and

transportation corridors to the ports.

Plans call for at least 26 acres to be used for homeless assistance,

including 204 family housing units. Disposition of the remaining 57 acres,

including the naval hospital, is undetermined. Additional acres are being

considered for homeless assistance groups under the Base Closure

Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act of 1994. DOD has

recommended to the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission that

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the naval shipyard be closed. If this recommendation is sustained, the

property being transferred to the shipyard will be disposed of as part of

the shipyard closure process.

Golf course: The golf course property is owned by the Army and leased to

the Navy through an indefinite lease. The Navy plans to retain the golf

course, which is located about 10 miles from the naval station and 3 miles

from the naval hospital, transferring the course to the naval shipyard.

Implementation status: A reuse plan for the Los Angeles portion of the

property has not yet been completed. Reuse disputes between Long Beach

and nearby communities have led to delays in property disposition

decisions. The Long Beach plan calls for the hospital to be converted into

a retail center, while an opposing plan supported by nearby communities

calls for it to become a Los Angeles County Office of Education

administrative building. DOD’s Office of Economic Adjustment hired a

consultant to do an independent study that the Navy will use, along with

the environmental impact study, to determine the preferred use for the

property. The Long Beach plan calls for the Navy to sell the property for

about $20 million, while the other plan involves an educational public

benefit transfer.

A draft environmental impact statement for the hospital was published in

February 1995. The Navy expects to make its property disposition

decisions in July 1995.

Homeless assistance plans have not been settled. In response to a

community challenge, the Department of Housing and Urban Development

reversed its position and declared that 66 of the 140 housing units at the

Taper Avenue housing site designated for a homeless assistance provider

are unsuitable for that purpose because they are located too close to some

aviation fuel tanks. A community group also asked the Department of

Health and Human Services to reexamine the provider’s suitability to

undertake such a project. Another homeless assistance provider that was

approved to receive a portion of the Savannah/Cabrillo housing lost

financial backing and was therefore disqualified to receive it.

Both Los Angeles and Long Beach are developing new plans to address

homeless needs. The city of Long Beach is still committed to using 

26 acres of the property for homeless assistance, possibly through

temporary leasing of some facilities.

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Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 417.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Not available; most of the property is

being retained for naval shipyard.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $349,188

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $349,188

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Petroleum hydrocarbons, paints, solvents, asbestos,

trichloroethylene, and battery acid.

Estimated cleanup cost: $125.3 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: To be determined.

Loring Air Force Base,

Maine

Base description: Loring is located on 9,482 acres and is 5 miles from the

Canadian border in Limestone, Maine, near the town of Caribou. Along

with the approximately 8,700-acre main base, Loring has several off-site

parcels in nearby towns, which include housing tracts. Prior to closure,

Loring was home to B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers.

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Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: March 1994.

Date of base closure: September 1994.

Summary of reuse plan: DOD will retain 400 acres for use by the National

Guard and 14 acres for a Defense Finance and Accounting Service center.

The Fish and Wildlife Service will receive 6,000 acres for a wildlife

preserve. The Bureau of Indian Affairs will receive about 600 acres of

property at the main base and about 60 housing units on 20 acres in the

nearby town of Presque Isle. This property will be held in trust by the

Bureau for reuse by the Aroostook Band of the Micmac Indian Tribe. The

Air Force also plans to transfer 50 acres to the Department of Labor for a

Job Corps training center and 18 acres through public benefit transfers for

several educational programs. The remaining 2,380 acres will likely be

disposed of through an economic development conveyance. The initial

reuse plan called for the base to be used for an airport and aviation-related

enterprises.

The reuse plan asks the federal government to pay $35 million of the

projected $40 million in base conversion costs over 20 years, including the

cost of demolition of buildings. In addition, local officials want DOD to

cover base caretaker costs for 15 years.

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Golf course: The 9-hole golf course has been leased to the local authority.

The authority plans to request the golf course as part of an economic

development conveyance.

Implementation status: A joint study by the Federal Aviation

Administration and the Maine Department of Transportation concluded

that another airport was not needed in the region. The Federal Aviation

Administration indicated, however, that it would consider approving plans

for an airport at Loring if a market developed for an air cargo operation

that needed a heavy, long runway. Loring, however, is experiencing the

same difficulties as other rural bases in attracting aviation-related

businesses. Since its closure, the base has been maintained under a 3-year

caretaker agreement. Under the agreement, the Air Force covers nearly

100 percent of the caretaker costs for the first year, but the percentage is

expected to decline in subsequent years if businesses can be attracted to

the base. According to a base official, the Defense Finance and Accounting

System center should be in operation by the summer of 1995, which will

provide about 500 jobs within 2 years. The local authority is hopeful the

center will act as a catalyst to attract other businesses to the base.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 1,326.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 144 (these jobs are related to caretaker

operations).

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $1,903,263

Economic Development Administration grants 2,267,000

Federal Aviation Administration grant 50,000

Department of Labor job training grants 2,100,000

Total $6,320,263

The Economic Development Administration awarded $1,590,000 to the city

of Fort Fairfield to increase the capacity of the sewage treatment facility

and $677,000 to the Northern Maine Development Commission for

technical assistance. The Federal Aviation Administration grant was

awarded to the local authority for airport facilities and equipment.

Environmental cleanup:

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National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Volatile organic compounds, waste fuels, oils, spent

solvents, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, and heavy metals.

Estimated cleanup cost: $141.9 million.

The cleanup of contaminants at Loring is progressing. The Air Force is

signing agreements with environmental regulators, and the base cleanup

team is facilitating the work. Through interagency cooperation, $10 million

was saved by combining the cleanup of two sites. The Environmental

Protection Agency granted a waiver to allow marginally contaminated soil

that had to be cleaned from a quarry to be used to cap a land fill. However,

the base’s inclement weather restricts cleanup work to the summer

months, slowing cleanup completion.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: September 1999.

Lowry Air Force Base,

Colorado

Base description: Lowry is located on 1,866 acres in a suburban area

between Denver and Aurora. The base was established in 1937 as an Army

Air Corps technical school, and it has been used as a technical training

center since that time. In addition, a Defense Finance and Accounting

center and the Air Reserve Personnel Center are located on the base.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

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Date of military mission termination: April 1994.

Date of base closure: September 1994.

Summary of reuse plan: The plan calls for mixed-use urban development

combining business, training, education, recreation, and residential uses to

make maximum use of existing facilities and land. DOD will retain 115 acres

for the Defense Finance and Accounting center, an Air Reserve personnel

center, and the 21st Space Command Squadron. The Air Force is

conveying 220 acres in educational public benefit transfers to a

consortium of Colorado colleges and the Denver public school system for

educational and job training centers.

Initially, homeless assistance providers were approved to receive 47 acres,

including 200 family housing units and dormitories. However, under a plan

worked out with the city of Denver and the Department of Housing and

Urban Development, the providers will withdraw their requests for some

of this property in return for funding to establish homeless facilities at

dispersed locations in the Denver metropolitan area. The officials involved

believe this plan will better meet the needs of the homeless than would

concentrating the facilities at Lowry.

In addition, parks and recreation public benefit transfers will total 

175 acres. Health-related public benefit transfers totaling 22 acres will be

used for such purposes as a blood bank and a research center. An

economic development transfer of 711 acres will go to the Lowry

Economic Redevelopment Authority. This acreage will increase if

homeless providers withdraw some of their requests for base property as

expected. Market sales are planned for the remaining 576 acres, including

the golf course and residential areas.

Golf course: The golf course is under interim lease to the city of Denver.

Its sale awaits environmental clearances. A residential landfill adjacent to

the golf course may not require appreciable cleanup if its future use is

open space or recreational, such as extension of the golf course.

Implementation status: Following final decisions on the disposition of

base property in August 1994, base closure officials have been proceeding

with disposition agreements. The community college educational

consortium has signed an interim lease and is conducting 80 courses for

800 students. Several other leases have been signed or are being

negotiated. Four of the homeless providers have withdrawn their requests

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for base housing in return for a contract with the city to provide space

elsewhere in the community.

Pending final environmental clearances, long-term leases will be used to

promote immediate reuse on most parcels. In addition, negotiations have

begun between the Air Force and the local authority regarding property

sales and the economic development conveyance. The economic

development conveyance negotiations involve an up-front fair market

settlement price in accordance with recent regulations.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 2,290.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 104.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $1,771,525

Economic Development Administration grant 112,500

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 800,000

Total $2,684,025

The Economic Development Administration grant to the cities of Aurora

and Denver has provided funds to prepare a work plan for identifying

market opportunities for businesses affected by the base closure.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Waste oil, general refuse, fly ash, coal, metals, and fuels.

Estimated cleanup cost: $18.8 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: September 1999.

Mather Air Force

Base, California

Base description: Mather is located on 5,716 acres in the suburbs of

Sacramento. The base was first activated in 1918 as a combat pilot training

school, then placed on inactive status from 1922 until 1930 and again from

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1932 until 1941. More recently, Mather hosted a Strategic Air Command

Bombardment Wing and an Air Refueling Group.

Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Date of military mission termination: May 1993.

Date of base closure: September 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: Under the plan, the Air Force will retain the

26-acre hospital and the Army will retain 31 acres for the National Guard.

In addition, the Veterans Administration is requesting a 20-acre site to

construct a new clinic and nursing home.

Public benefit transfers will include 2,883 acres for the airport, 1,462 acres

for county parks and recreation, and 95 acres for educational purposes

such as a law enforcement training center. In addition, 28 acres are to be

transferred to the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency to

provide facilities for the homeless, including 60 family housing units and

200 single housing units.

The plan calls for the remaining 1,171 acres to be sold, including the

174-acre golf course and 997 acres for commercial, industrial, and

residential development.

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Golf course: The Air Force disposed of the golf course through a

negotiated sale to the county for $6 million.

Implementation status: The airport transfer was delayed over air quality

issues. However, a long-term lease conveyance was signed in March 1995

to begin civilian airport use. Some of Mather’s missions moved to nearby

McClellan Air Force Base, and some air emission mitigation measures may

be needed to permit civilian aviation activities at Mather.

Utility system and infrastructure costs have also posed some difficulties.

Local utility companies have been asked to purchase these systems, but

they are concerned about the cost of upgrading the systems. The

municipal utilities district estimated it would cost between $2.5 million

and $3 million to upgrade the electrical distribution system.

The negotiated sale of the housing has been abandoned due to contentions

over fair market value. Instead, the Air Force will sell the housing publicly.

Furthermore, according to a base official, sale of developable parcels of

land at Mather will likely be piecemeal, requiring more time and effort.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 1,012.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 241.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $933,670

Economic Development Administration grant 75,000

Federal Aviation Administration grant 238,526

Department of Labor job training grants 1,750,000

Total $2,997,196

Sacramento received the Economic Development Administration grant to

assist with the preparation of an economic development plan and the

Federal Aviation Administration grant for an airport reuse feasibility

study.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

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Contaminants: Solvents, cleaners, volatile organic compounds, plating

waste, and heavy metals.

Estimated cleanup cost: $94 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: September 1997.

Moffett Naval Air

Station, California

Base description: The station was located on 1,577 acres on San Francisco

Bay in Mountain View, near Sunnyvale, 7 miles north of San Jose. It was

originally commissioned in 1933 as the home base for a Navy dirigible. Its

recent mission was to support anti-submarine warfare training and patrol

squadrons. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA)

Ames Research Center lies adjacent to the Naval Air Station at Moffett.

Lockheed Missile and Space Company and other government contractors

in the adjacent community also use the airfield. The Onizuka Air Force

Station, a satellite tracking and control operation, is also located adjacent

to Moffett, but it has no airfield or planes, and it does not use the Moffett

runway. The 1991 BRAC Commission recommended that the federal

government transfer the entire naval air station directly to NASA.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: July 1994.

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Date of base closure: July 1994.

Summary of reuse plan: The Navy’s plan called for the no-cost transfer of

1,440 acres to NASA and 130 acres of base housing to the Air Force. A 7-acre

off-base site of former housing is to be sold for a negotiated price to the

city of Sunnyvale, which plans to use the site for developing affordable

housing. NASA plans for airfield facilities to be used by various NASA

tenants, including Lockheed, an Army medical evacuation unit, and Bay

Area Reserve and National Guard units, some of which are relocating from

other closing Bay Area bases. NASA itself will only use 10 percent to

20 percent of the property, and its operations are expected to make up

only about 30 percent of the airfield’s use.

Golf course: The golf course is part of the property being transferred to

NASA, which is having the Air Force operate it through its Morale, Welfare,

and Recreation program. As with other federal agency uses of Moffett

facilities, the Air Force contributes proportionally to NASA for overall

operations and maintenance costs.

Implementation status: The active duty Navy mission ceased, and the base

was transferred to NASA on July 1, 1994. As of November 1994, a NASA

official reported that NASA had received commitments for about 80 percent

of the available buildings and 50 percent of the airfield use. NASA is

marketing Moffett property only to federal agencies and contractors

because of the BRAC decision that it be kept as a federal facility. As more

bases close, NASA hopes to attract more military and military-related units.

However, DOD has recommended to the 1995 BRAC Commission that the Air

National Guard unit at Moffett be moved to McClellan Air Force Base and

that the Onizuka Air Force Station be downsized. Furthermore, NASA faces

major budget cuts in coming years and is questioning whether it can

handle the operational costs of Moffett Field under the current

arrangements.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 633.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 194.

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Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment grants $0

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 3,558,678

Total $3,558,678

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Volatile and semivolatile organic compounds, petroleum

products, heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls, battery acid,

polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and

xylene.

Estimated cleanup cost: $52.9 million.

According to the agreement between the Navy and NASA, the Navy did not

have to certify that the property was clean before the transfer took place.

However, the agreement calls for the Navy to remain responsible for the

cleanup, which may extend to the year 2010.

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Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: 2010.

Myrtle Beach Air

Force Base, South

Carolina

Base description: This base is located on 3,744 acres by the Atlantic coast,

100 miles north of Charleston, in an area with many resort beaches and

golf courses. Beginning in 1939, the site was used as a municipal airport. In

1941, the War Department acquired the airfield from the city of Myrtle

Beach. It was used for training throughout World War II and was then

deactivated, and the runways and tower were given to the city. The Air

Force reacquired the airfield from the city in 1955. Most recently, it was

home to a tactical fighter mission.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: September 1992.

Date of base closure: March 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: The plan calls for a 1,247-acre airport public

benefit transfer. It further designates 1,555 acres to be included in a land

exchange with the state of South Carolina, as authorized by Public 

Law 102-484, section 2832. In return, the Air Force will receive 12,521

acres of forested land near Shaw Air Force Base for a bombing range, a

portion of which the Air Force had been leasing. Also under the plan, the

224-acre golf course will be a public benefit transfer to the city for a

municipal golf course, and a 12-acre site is designated as an educational

public benefit transfer for a fire training center. The Air Force plans to sell

the chapel and credit union properties, totaling about 4 acres. The

disposition of the remaining 702 acres, including 800 housing units, is

undetermined, but could include mixed-use redevelopment and airport

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expansion. Accordingly, the redevelopment authority and the Air Force

are discussing possible negotiated sale or economic development

conveyance. A developer has offered $11.1 million for the housing. Several

housing units have been requested for homeless assistance, which DOD

indicated is consistent with the planned residential use of the facilities.

Golf course: The Air Force planned to dispose of the golf course through a

negotiated sale to the state. However, the city requested the course as a

public benefit transfer for use as a municipal course. This request was

subsequently endorsed by the Department of the Interior and approved by

the Air Force. A private developer had offered $3.5 million for the course.

Implementation status: A conflict between the city and the county over the

need for and expansion of the airport caused delays in property

disposition decisions. State legislation created a central authority to

handle the dispute and make reuse decisions.

Of the property exchanged with the state, the state has sold 69 acres to an

electronics firm and is in the process of selling much of the rest for private

development of a tourist resort complex. However, environmental cleanup

clearances are needed before the deal is finalized.

The Air Force will sell the 1.78-acre credit union site to the credit union for

about $76,500, and a tentative agreement has been reached to sell a 2-acre

chapel site for $280,000. One homeless assistance request remains under

consideration by the Air Force.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 799.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 588.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $1,180,006

Economic Development Administration grants 3,500,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 18,948,100

Department of Labor job training grants 925,000

Total $24,553,106

The Economic Development Administration grants consisted of $1 million

to the Grand Strand water and sewage authority and $2.5 million to the

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city of Myrtle Beach to construct water and sewage facilities. The Federal

Aviation Administration grants were awarded for planning, a noise

abatement study, airport construction projects, and equipment, such as

rescue and fire-fighting equipment. In addition, before the 1991 base

closure decision, the Federal Aviation Administration provided

$13.1 million in grants to help develop civilian airport facilities.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Spent solvents, fuel, waste oil, volatile organic compounds,

heavy metals, asbestos, and paints and thinners.

Estimated cleanup cost: $27 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: March 1997.

Norton Air Force

Base, California

Base description: Norton is located on 2,115 acres adjacent to the city of

San Bernardino, 60 miles east of Los Angeles. The base was activated in

1942, and its primary mission included maintenance of aircraft and aircraft

engines. In 1966, its mission changed to maintaining airlift capability.

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Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Date of military mission termination: June 1993.

Date of base closure: March 1994.

Summary of reuse plan: The plan calls for 78 acres of housing to be

retained by the Air Force for personnel at nearby March Air Force Base.

When the March base, which was recommended for realignment in 1993,

declares this property excess, it will be disposed of. Under the plan, DOD

will retain 34 acres for a Defense Finance and Accounting Service center

and transfer 33 acres, including a headquarters building and aircraft space,

to the Forest Service for its fire-fighting operations. Furthermore, public

benefit transfers will include 1,267 acres for an airport, 24 acres for parks

and recreation, and 10 acres for educational purposes to local colleges.

Other public benefit transfers will include the 4-acre chapel and youth

center sites, which will go to a homeless assistance provider, 24 acres for

roads and road widening, and the base’s water and sewer system.

The remaining 641 acres will be an economic development conveyance,

under the terms of an agreement that guarantees $52 million in revenue to

DOD after 15 years. Under this agreement, DOD will receive 40 percent of the

gross revenues from leases and 100 percent of the proceeds from any

property sales. After 15 years, the authority is to pay DOD any remaining

balance.

The San Manuel Indians have expressed interest in purchasing a parcel of

land for light manufacturing use, and they are also pursuing a request

through the Bureau of Indian affairs for a building to be used as a clinic.

Golf course: The local redevelopment authority submitted a $6-million bid

for the golf course as part of the $52-million economic development

package, which was accepted by the Air Force. The authority leased the

course for $190,000 annually prior to the sale.

Implementation status: Reuse was delayed by a homeless request for a

major portion of the base that subsequently fell through. Initially, the

disposition of the utility systems was also disputed, but the dispute was

resolved. A final agreement on the economic development conveyance

was signed in March 1995; the agreement obligates the authority to pay the

Air Force $52 million within 15 years for the 641 acres, including the golf

course and the utility systems other than sewer and water, which will be

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conveyed for public health purposes. The authority is already negotiating

seven subleases, under which the tenants will receive free rent for 6 to 

12 months in return for renovating the old buildings.

Until the environmental cleanup is complete, most property is being

disposed of under leases instead of deed transfers. According to base

closing officials, processing leases and deed transfers has been

time-consuming. Public benefit transfers have been delayed because the

sponsoring federal agencies are reluctant to transfer property where

cleanup has not been completed. The Air Force is preparing long-term

leases in lieu of assignment to sponsoring agencies.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 2,133.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 25.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $726,000

Economic Development Administration grants 6,825,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 2,218,638

Department of Labor job training grants 2,916,000

Total $12,685,638

The Economic Development Administration funds were awarded to the

city of San Bernardino to improve the roads and water system at Norton.

The Federal Aviation Administration grants were awarded to the local

authority for $118,638 to develop an airport master plan and for

$2.1 million for airport construction and improvements.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Waste oils and fuel, spent solvents, paints, refrigerants,

heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds.

Estimated cleanup cost: $117.4 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: December 2000.

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Pease Air Force Base,

New Hampshire

Base description: Pease is located on 4,257 acres at Portsmouth in

southeastern New Hampshire. It started operations in 1956 as a Strategic

Air Command base; its mission was to maintain a force capable of

long-range bombardment and air-to-air refueling operations.

Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Date of military mission termination: September 1990.

Date of base closure: March 1991.

Summary of reuse plan: The Air Force retained 230 acres for the Air

National Guard and transferred 1,095 acres to the Fish and Wildlife Service

for a wildlife refuge. Local authorities requested a 2,305-acre airport public

benefit transfer and a 600-acre economic development conveyance, which

would include revenue-generating property to support airport operations.

The New Hampshire state transportation agency will receive a 27-acre

conveyance for highway widening.

Golf course: The local authority requested that the golf course be included

as part of the economic development conveyance, but they are

reevaluating their request. Meanwhile, the golf course is being leased to

the local authority for $100,000 annually.

Implementation status: A portion of the base, including the airfield, is

under lease to the local authority, and 41 tenants have created more than

1,000 jobs thus far. A commercial airport and an aircraft maintenance

complex are in operation. Other tenants include the U.S. Department of

State’s passport and visa processing center and a biotechnology firm. The

state has made a large financial commitment to the fledgling airport,

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including $16 million a year in operating loans and over $100 million in

bonding guarantees for business development. The Air Force remains the

caretaker of about 1,050 acres that have not been leased.

Although it has been 3 years since property disposition decisions were

made, no deeds have been transferred. According to base officials,

considerable time and effort have been spent on preparing environmental

studies and reports and seeking cleanup approvals, but no end is in sight.

On August 29, 1994, in a suit brought by the Conservation Law Foundation

and the town of Newington, the U.S. District Court ruled that the Air Force

violated section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation and Liability Act by transferring property under a long-term

lease without an approved remedial design. However, the lease was not

invalidated. This ruling has affected DOD’s leasing practices at other closing

bases. The court also ordered the Air Force to prepare a supplemental

environmental impact statement, which will be complete in July 1995.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 400.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 1,038.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $859,790

Economic Development Administration grants 10,200,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 7,774,618

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $18,834,408

To assist with industrial development, the Economic Development

Administration awarded grants amounting to $8,475,000 to the Pease

Development Authority to renovate or demolish buildings and to widen

the main roadway entrance to the base to facilitate public access. In

addition, the Pease community and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

community are expected to share the benefits of a $3,450,000 Economic

Development Administration grant to the New Hampshire state port

authority for the construction of a barge facility in the area. Federal

Aviation Administration grants were awarded for planning, preparing a

noise compatibility study, installing equipment, and improving the airport.

The largest of the grants was $3.8 million to rehabilitate a runway.

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In addition to the grants shown above, the Department of Transportation

provided $400,000 for a surface transportation study and the

Environmental Protection Agency provided $120,000 for a watershed

restoration study.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Volatile organic compounds, organic solvents, spent fuels,

waste oils, petroleum/oils/lubricants, pesticides, paints, and elevated

metals.

Estimated cleanup cost: $140 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: November 1997.

Philadelphia Naval

Station/Naval

Hospital/Naval

Shipyard,

Pennsylvania

Base description: These naval facilities are located on 1,502 waterfront

acres, 4 miles south of Philadelphia’s central business district. The

348-acre shipyard includes piers and water acres that contain a mothballed

fleet. The BRAC Commission determined that the shipyard should be closed

and preserved so that it would be available if needed in the future. The

1,105-acre naval station is adjacent to the shipyard. The property was

deeded to the Navy by the city in 1868. The 49-acre hospital property is

located about 1 mile from the base. The main hospital building was

completed in 1935.

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Date of closure recommendation: Hospital—1988, Naval Station and

Shipyard—1991.

Estimated date of military mission termination: September 1995.

Estimated date of base closure: Naval Station—January 1996 and

Shipyard—September, 1996.

Summary of reuse plan: Under the current plan, the Navy will retain 

550 acres, including the shipyard. The plan calls for the National Park

Service to receive 1 acre and for most of the hospital property to be public

benefit transfers—30 acres for park land and 6 acres for a nursing home.

The remaining 13 acres of hospital property to be sold for residential

development.

Reuse plans for 902 acres containing most of the naval station property

have not been determined. The emphasis of the reuse plan is on economic

development and job creation. The reuse authority hopes to encourage

businesses, both large and small, to use existing buildings, and there is one

large open site, the former airfield, that is suitable for large site

development.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: Local authorities’ initial challenge of the closure

decision delayed the start of reuse planning for the closing facilities. In

early 1994, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the challenge.

The local reuse committee has completed a conceptual reuse plan, which

seeks to attract private business and redevelop the area through economic

development transfers and long-term leases. According to the base closure

officer, although base cleanup will take 5 more years, most base property

could be leased and no environmental issues should prevent reuse from

occurring. In November 1994, the Navy and the city executed a master

lease that permits the city to sublease the preserved shipyard facilities,

thus allowing for job creation at the facility.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 8,119.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

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Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $52,008,890

Economic Development Administration grants 2,700,000

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 11,150,000

Total $65,858,890

The Office of Economic Adjustment has provided about $2 million in

planning grants. In April 1995, the Office also awarded a $50-million grant

to establish a revolving loan fund to invest in projects that would

accelerate the conversion of the naval station and shipyard to civilian use.

Economic Development Administration grants awarded to the city of

Philadelphia included $1.6 million to establish a revolving loan fund to

assist in the conversion of defense dependent industries and $1.1 million

for a feasibility study on the potential commercial reuse of shipyard and

hospital buildings and specialized equipment to determine the best use

and whether there are market matches. The study also was to determine

the feasibility of extensive asbestos removal from the hospital building.

In addition, the Navy is expending $16 million in military construction

funds to improve utility systems on the retained portion of the base.

Furthermore, the 1995 Defense Appropriations Act directed the Navy to

spend $14.2 million for similar utility improvements on the portion of the

base that is being disposed of.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls,

petroleum/oil/lubricants, solvents, and volatile organic compounds.

Estimated cleanup cost: $120 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: 1999.

Presidio of San

Francisco, California

Base description: The Presidio is located on 1,480 acres in San Francisco

fronting the ocean and San Francisco Bay. It has been a military garrison

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for 220 years, occupied by Spain, Mexico, and the United States, and was

designated a national historic landmark in 1962. The property includes the

Letterman Army Medical Center and the Army Institute of Research, as

well as a former Public Health Service hospital. Legislation enacted in

1972 to create the Golden Gate National Recreation Area included a

provision mandating the transfer of the Presidio to the National Park

Service if DOD determined the base was in excess of its needs.

Date of closure recommendation: 1988.

Date of military mission termination: September 1994 (Sixth Army

Headquarters—September 1995).

Estimated date of base closure: September 1995.

Summary of reuse plan: The Army is transferring the entire 1,480-acre base

to the National Park Service to become part of the Golden Gate National

Recreation Area. The plan calls for the creation of a nonprofit corporation

called the Presidio Trust to manage the conversion of the base into a park

and to be responsible for the renovation and leasing of facilities.

Golf course: The golf course will be transferred to the Park Service by

October 1995. The Park Service is seeking a concessionaire to operate the

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course, and it plans to use revenues from the course, which could exceed

$1 million annually, to help support park operations.

Implementation status: After months of discussions and considerable

controversy, the Army and the Park Service agreed on the transfer terms,

and the property was transferred to the Park Service on October 1, 1994.

The Army retained an irrevocable special use permit for a portion of the

base to be used by Sixth Army headquarters. However, in December 1994,

the Army announced that it would cease operations at the Presidio by

October 1995, at which time the Park Service will have sole responsibility

for the costly maintenance of the Presidio.

Since the 1994 Congress did not authorize the Presidio trust, the Park

Service is handling conversion efforts. The Park Service had hoped to

lease the Letterman complex to the University of California Medical

Complex, but the university announced in December 1994 that it would

not lease the facility.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 3,150.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 725.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $0

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 500,000

Total $500,000

In addition, before turning the property over to the Park Service, the Army

spent $69 million to upgrade various features of the base’s infrastructure,

including its sewer systems, water treatment facilities, electrical systems,

and roofs. However, these repairs do not address bringing the base’s

buildings up to local codes.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

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Contaminants: Petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, solvents, and

pesticides.

Estimated cleanup cost: $104.6 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: July 1996.

Puget Sound Naval

Station (Sand Point),

Washington

Base description: The 151-acre base is located on Lake Washington in

Seattle. In 1922, the Navy established a 366-acre air station at the site. The

Navy surplused 215 acres, including the airfield in 1973, which became

home to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the

city’s Magnuson Park. The remaining property has served as a Navy

administrative facility and includes a small research facility for the Fish

and Wildlife Service.

Date of closure recommendation: 1988—partial closure; 1991—full

closure.

Estimated date of military mission termination: September 1995.

Estimated date of base closure: September 1995.

Summary of reuse plan: The Navy plans to transfer 10 acres to the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which it will use to expand

operations at its adjacent facility. The Fish and Wildlife Service is to

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receive 4 acres, which is the site of an on-base laboratory it currently

operates.

Seattle’s reuse plan calls for the remainder of the base to be public benefit

transfers of 18 acres for homeless assistance, 82 acres for parks and

recreation, 21 acres for educational activities, and 16 acres for roadways.

Under this plan, homeless providers would receive 18 acres, including 

3 family housing units and 197 single housing units. Under the provisions

of the Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance

Act of 1994, the city is interested in incorporating the homeless housing

with the development of mixed housing on that property.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs requested the majority of the base (85 acres)

on behalf of the Muckleshoot Indian tribe, which seeks to use the property

for educational and economic development activities. The Muckleshoots

have indicated a willingness to reduce the size of their request if the city is

willing to negotiate.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: The city of Seattle opposes the Muckleshoot plan,

saying it is incompatible with the community’s reuse plan. The city also

opposes the tribe’s gaining sovereignty over base property, which would

remove it from local zoning and land use regulations. The Department of

Interior has asked DOD to give the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ request priority

under federal rules for disposing of excess property. As long as 2 years

ago, DOD asked the parties to work on a joint reuse plan. DOD’s property

disposition decision is pending because of the issue, which is delaying

reuse progress at the base. Base closure and community officials doubt

that the stalemate at the local level will be broken without a DOD policy

decision more clearly defining Native American status in the base closure

screening process and the concept of sovereignty as it applies to base

closure sites not located on a reservation.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 754.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

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Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $182,000

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $182,000

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Petroleum products and metals.

Estimated cleanup cost: $5.2 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: January 1995.

Richards-Gebaur Air

Reserve Station,

Missouri

Base description: The station is located on 428 acres on the southern edge

of Kansas City. The city conveyed the property to the Air Force to

establish the base in 1953. Until 1970, the Air Defense Command had the

primary mission on the base. In 1979, the Air Force phased down the base,

and in 1980, the Air Force Reserve assumed operational control. In 1985,

the Air Force transferred ownership of much of the airfield to the city, but

the city was unable to develop a successful commercial airport, and the

Air Force Reserve has remained the biggest user.

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Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: July 1994.

Date of base closure: September 1994.

Summary of reuse plan: DOD plans to retain 238 acres—184 acres for the

Army Reserves and 54 acres for the Marine Corps. Most of the remaining

property, about 178 acres, will be a public benefit transfer to the city to

expand the airport. The city of Belton plans to purchase the remaining 

12 acres at fair market value.

Golf course: None. The golf course was disposed of when the Air Force

property was transferred in 1985.

Implementation status: The Air Force has turned responsibility for control

tower operations and navigational maintenance over to the city. In

addition, annual Air Force payments of $265,000 to partly cover airfield

operations ceased as of October 1994. A final decision on property

disposition was signed in April 1995.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 569.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 0.

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Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $241,985

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 1,572,000

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $1,813,985

The Federal Aviation Administration grants awarded to the Kansas City

aviation department included $228,000 for an airport master plan, $744,000

for facilities and equipment, and $600,000 for grading and drainage. In

addition, prior to the 1991 closure decision, the department received

$955,800 in Federal Aviation Administration funds in 1990 for new runway

approach lights.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Petroleum/oil/lubricants, aqueous film-forming foam,

polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and solvents.

Estimated cleanup cost: $5 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: September 1998.

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Rickenbacker Air

Guard Base, Ohio

Base description: The base is located on 2,015 acres about 12 miles

southeast of downtown Columbus. Construction of the base began in

January 1942, and it was activated as a training center for Army Air Corps

glider pilots. The base was deactivated in 1949 and reactivated in 1951 as a

Strategic Air Command base supporting the Korean War build-up. The Air

Force base closed in 1978, and the airfield was leased long-term to the

community in 1984. However, most of the support for airport operations

has continued to come from the Air National Guard. Air Guard base

property to be disposed of under the current closure will include

conveyance of property included in the long-term lease, as well as other

runways and taxiways.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: No active duty missions.

Date of base closure: September 1994.

Summary of reuse plan: The Air Force will retain 203 acres for use by the

Air National Guard, and it will transfer 164 acres to the Army for use by

the Army National Guard and Reserves. The remaining 1,648 acres will be

an airport public benefit transfer to the port authority.

Golf course: None. The golf course was disposed of when the Air Force

base was closed in 1979.

Implementation status: Final property screening of acreage and buildings

under the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act was completed, and no

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formal homeless requests have been received. The public comment period

on the environmental impact statement has concluded, and the statement

was issued in February 1995. A final decision on property disposition was

signed in May 1995.

The port authority has been having difficulty attracting sufficient tenants

to support airport operations. It currently receives an annual $3 million

subsidy from the county. However, a local official reported that the port

authority recently has had much greater success in attracting businesses.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 1,129.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 8 (these jobs are related to caretaker

operations).

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $111,000

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 1,110,803

Department of Labor job training grants 684,545

Total $1,906,348

The Federal Aviation Administration grants were awarded for planning

and airport improvements. In addition, prior to the 1991 closure decision,

the Federal Aviation Administration had provided grants totaling

$13.5 million to help develop civilian airport facilities.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Pesticides, paint, spent fuel, waste oil, solvents, and heavy

metals.

Estimated cleanup cost: $41.7 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: June 1997.

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Sacramento Army

Depot, California

Base description: The depot is located on 487 acres in an industrial area, 

7 miles southeast of downtown Sacramento. The depot first occupied its

present site in 1945.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: March 1994.

Date of base closure: March 1995.

Summary of reuse plan: DOD plans to retain 80 acres for use by the Army

Reserve and the Navy. The Department of Health and Human Services has

approved requests by homeless assistance providers for 28 acres of

property, including warehouse and cold storage space for food

distribution to homeless groups. The city opted for an alternative to

another approved request from a homeless provider for two buildings on

either side of the main administration building. Adopting the view that the

operation of a homeless facility in the location would likely disrupt the

economic development plan, the city instead agreed to fund the

acquisition of facilities elsewhere for the homeless provider. According to

a city official, the increased property tax revenue from economic

development at the depot is expected to more than offset the cost of the

relocation. California State University Sacramento is receiving about 

8 acres for a manufacturing technology center. The remaining 371 acres

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have been transferred to the city of Sacramento through an economic

development conveyance. Under the terms of the conveyance, the city will

pay the Army $7.2 million for the property after 10 years.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: Army officials consider the depot to be a model of

successful fast-track efforts to clean up contaminants, convert facilities to

civilian use, and create jobs at a closing base. Central to this success was

the city’s ability to convince Packard Bell to locate its computer

manufacturing operations at the depot. Key factors contributing to the

company’s decision were the state’s approval of an enterprise zone, which

enabled the company to qualify for tax breaks, and the city’s offer to

finance renovation costs at the base. The city is financing $17 million in

renovation costs to be covered by lease payments from Packard Bell. The

city is allowing Packard Bell to sublease some of the property it has

received and use the proceeds to help with renovation costs. Packard Bell

has an option to buy the 269 acres it is leasing from the city for

$8.9 million. Local officials expect the Packard Bell move to Sacramento

will create 2,500 to 3,000 direct manufacturing jobs and up to 

2,500 additional jobs for suppliers in the area. The total more than offsets

the jobs lost due to depot closure.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 3,164.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 630.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $436,010

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 1,750,000

Total $2,186,010

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes, the base is expected to be removed from

the list in June 1996.

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Contaminants: Waste oil and grease, solvents, metal plating wastes, and

wastewaters containing caustics, cyanide, and metals.

Estimated cleanup cost: $62.4 million.

Considerable progress has been made in base cleanup so that the property

being transferred to Packard Bell was suitable for transfer. Some

additional base cleanup activities have been slowed by a contract award

bid protest.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: June 1996.

Tustin Marine Corps

Air Station, California

Base description: The station is located on 1,620 acres in the Orange

County town of Tustin south of Los Angeles. It was first commissioned in

1942 and was used to support observation blimps and personnel

conducting antisubmarine patrols off the coast during World War II. It was

decommissioned in 1949 but reactivated in 1951 and used solely for

helicopter operations. DOD’s estimate of revenues from the disposal of

property at the station is higher than for any other 1988 or 1991 base

closure.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

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Estimated date of military mission termination: June 1997. The 1993 BRAC

Commission redirected the planned relocation of Tustin military missions,

which resulted in a delay in terminating these missions at Tustin.

Estimated date of base closure: July 1997.

Summary of reuse plan: DOD plans to retain 10 acres for the Army

Reserves. The city has agreed to include in its reuse plan about 38 acres

for homeless assistance programs, including family and single housing

units and a facility to be used for a children’s shelter. The plan calls for 

219 acres to be educational public benefit transfers for public schools and

an educational coalition involving the community college. In addition,

public benefit transfer for parks and recreation will total 103 acres. The

current reuse plans call for 1,142 acres of the base property to be an

economic development conveyance with terms to be negotiated.

The remaining 108 acres are undetermined. Disputes have arisen about

additional federal requests: 12 acres by the Army Reserves, 25 acres by the

Air National Guard, and 55 acres of housing, consisting of 274 family

housing units, by the Coast Guard. These requests for property with

high-market value are opposed by the community or Marine Corps

headquarters or both. Other acreage requested by two Indian groups and a

local homeless services’ coalition also conflict with local reuse plans.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: The local authority has completed its reuse plan,

and preparation of the environmental impact statement based on the plan

is underway. DOD granted a request from the authority to delay the federal

screening decision. The authority is concerned that if too much of the

property is given to federal and homeless assistance agencies, the local tax

base will be diminished and will be insufficient to support the many

infrastructure improvements that are needed to develop the base, such as

construction of new roads. One local official estimated that these

infrastructure improvements will cost about $200 million, which will

reduce the estimated revenue from developing base property.

The authority has agreed that homeless assistance requests will be

incorporated into the community plan in accordance with the Base

Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act of 1994.

Homeless requesters want more property than has been agreed to by the

authority. Determination of how much property will go to homeless

Page 103 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

requesters awaits a final decision on how much property will be

transferred to federal entities. Resolution of the Indian requests for

property at Tustin is on hold pending clarification at the federal level of

where such requests should fit in the property screening process.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 348.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $838,500

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $838,500

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Dichloroethane, naphthalene, pentachlorophenol,

petroleum hydrocarbons, trichloroethylene, benzene, toluene,

ethylbenzene, and xylene.

Estimated cleanup cost: $86.2 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: November 1999.

Warminster Naval Air

Warfare Center,

Pennsylvania

Base description: The center is located on 840 acres in Warminster, a

populated suburban area about 20 miles north of the Philadelphia city

center. The facility includes an airport, as well as office and research

space. The Navy acquired the facilities in 1944 from Brewster Aeronautical

Corporation, which manufactured aircraft during World War II. The facility

has served as the principal naval research, development, and evaluation

center for aircraft, airborne antisubmarine warfare, and aircraft systems

other than aircraft-launched weapon systems.

Page 104 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Estimated date of military mission termination: July 1996.

Estimated date of base closure: September 1996.

Summary of reuse plan: The Navy planned to retain 100 acres, including its

dynamic flight simulator (centrifuge) and its inertial navigation laboratory,

leaving 740 acres for reuse. The community has decided that it does not

want to reuse the center as an airport. Instead, the community hopes to

attract research facilities to the site. Discussions are also underway with a

consortium of eight universities for a satellite campus, and the school

district is interested in obtaining property for a new junior high school.

County homeless assistance providers may also be interested in obtaining

some center property.

The community finalized its reuse plan in February 1995, which

emphasizes public benefit and economic development transfers. Parks and

recreation will account for approximately 296 acres, economic

development conveyance 296 acres, education 67 acres, and the homeless

7 acres. The reuse authority has not developed a plan for how the

remaining 74 acres will be disposed of, but has earmarked 44 acres for

residential and 30 acres for municipal use.

DOD has recommended to the 1995 BRAC Commission that the 100 acres the

Navy was retaining also be closed. According to a base official, if the

Commission approves this recommendation, this property will likely be

added to the economic development conveyance.

Golf course: None.

Page 105 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Implementation status: The closure process is on schedule, and

environmental remediation measures are expected to be in place by the

time the base closes in 1996.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 1,979.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Base not yet closed.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $756,000

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 1,600,000

Total $2,356,000

The Federal Lands Reuse Authority of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, plans

to establish a 35,000-square foot business incubator program in hangar and

office space. According to a base official, the Economic Development

Administration has promised a future grant of over $2 million to assist this

program.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Firing range wastes, fuels, heavy metals, industrial

wastewater sludges, nonindustrial solid wastes, paints, polychlorinated

biphenyls, sewage treatment sludge, solvents, unspecified chemicals, and

volatile organic compounds.

Estimated cleanup cost: $11.1 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: September 1996.

Page 106 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Williams Air Force

Base, Arizona

Base description: Williams is located on 4,043 acres in Mesa, which is in

the Phoenix metropolitan area. It was activated in 1941 as a flight training

school, and pilot training was the base’s primary mission throughout its

history.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: January 1993.

Date of base closure: September 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: The reuse plan calls for the base to be converted

into a civilian airport and for a consortium of educational and job training

programs involving Arizona State University and Maricopa Community

College. The local authority is to receive a 2,547-acre airport public benefit

transfer. The colleges are to receive 657 acres through an educational

public benefit transfer. This transfer would include the housing for the

campus and the hospital, which would be operated jointly by Arizona State

University and the Veterans Administration. The housing units will be

leased until the university students occupy them. Two homeless providers

will receive 42 acres, including 88 housing units and a chapel. The Army

Reserve will receive 11 acres and the National Weather Service 1 acre. The

Page 107 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Air Force will convey 16 acres as a public benefit transfer for public health

purposes.

The Air Force currently plans to sell the remaining 769 acres. The Gila

River Indian Community is to receive the 158-acre golf course and an

additional 144 acres through a negotiated sale. The remaining 467 acres,

including property the local authority wanted to support the airport, is

slated for negotiated sale. However, Public Law 102-484 authorized the Air

Force to do a land exchange with the state of Arizona, whereby some of

this property at Williams would be given to the state in exchange for about

85,000 acres of rangeland that the Air Force leases from the state. The Air

Force has not acted on this prerogative, and the local authority does not

favor property at Williams being conveyed to the state.

Golf course: The golf course will be a negotiated sale to the Gila River

Indian Community.

Implementation plan: Negotiations are ongoing between the local airport

authority, the education consortium, the homeless coalition, the Gila

Indians, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Air Force over

property disposition issues and details. The airport authority and the Gila

Indians are negotiating over possible Gila partnership in the airport

authority. The education and job training programs are underway, with

enrollment of over 600 students expected for the fall of 1995.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 781.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 368.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $1,515,339

Economic Development Administration grant 587,500

Federal Aviation Administration grants 3,018,000

Department of Labor job training grants 2,000,000

Total $7,120,839

The Economic Development Administration grant was awarded to the city

of Mesa to fund the educational consortium plan, a land use and economic

development plan, and a transportation plan. The Federal Aviation

Page 108 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Administration grants included $125,000 for developing an airport master

plan and $2,893,000 for facilities and equipment.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: Yes.

Contaminants: Volatile organic compounds, waste solvents, fuels,

petroleum/oil/lubricants, and heavy metals.

Estimated cleanup cost: $42.7 million.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: December 1997.

Woodbridge Army

Research Facility,

Virginia

Base description: The facility is located on 580 acres, 25 miles south of

Washington, D.C. It is bounded on the west by the Marumsco National

Wildlife Refuge and consists of some laboratory buildings and a wetlands

area. The Army acquired the property in 1951 for use as a military radio

station. The facility became inactive in 1969. In 1971, it became a satellite

installation of the Harry Diamond Army Research Laboratory at Adelphi,

Maryland.

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: September 1994.

Date of base closure: September 1994.

Page 109 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Summary of reuse plan: The Army plans to transfer the entire 580 acres at

no cost to the Department of the Interior to be incorporated into the Fish

and Wildlife Service’s Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge. An earlier community

plan had called for the developed portion of the facility to be conveyed to

the community for a regional employment center and environmental

education, but August 1994 legislation gave the entire property to Interior.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: No date has been established for transferring the

facility to the Department of the Interior. At present, the facility remains

under Army stewardship and continues to be maintained in a caretaker

status. The Army is continuing the environmental restoration program at

the base, and it will remain responsible for remediation activities until

completion. According to a base official, Interior is reluctant to sign for

ownership of the property because it lacks operations and maintenance

funds to care for the property and upgrade or demolish buildings,

particularly until the lease expires on space occupied by local Fish and

Wildlife Service staff in the nearby community. Furthermore, Interior is

reluctant to assume ownership until the cleanup is complete due to

concern that DOD’s environmental restoration budget will be cut, leaving

insufficient DOD funds to complete the cleanup.

The operator of a homeless assistance seed distribution program has a

no-cost temporary lease from the Army for a small warehouse operation at

the base. It must make arrangements with Interior, if it wants to continue

this activity after the transfer occurs.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 90.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: Not available; the property is being

retained by a federal agency.

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $50,000

Economic Development Administration grants 0

Federal Aviation Administration grants 0

Department of Labor job training grants 0

Total $50,000

Page 110 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum products.

Estimated cleanup costs: $4.1 million.

Other potential contaminants include ethylene glycol from a previous

research and development activity and possible heavy metals in soils from

past sewage sludge injection activities. Site investigation and sampling

activities are continuing to confirm or deny potential remediation sites.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: April 1997.

Wurtsmith Air Force

Base, Michigan

Base description: Wurtsmith is located in northeast Michigan on the coast

of Lake Huron in the township of Oscoda. It is located on 2,205 acres of

Air Force property and 2,995 acres of land leased from the state, the

Forest Service, and the local power company. The base was initially

established in 1924 and used as an Army Air Service gunnery range. It was

closed in 1945, then reactivated in 1947. In 1958, the base was expanded to

host a Strategic Air Command unit.

Page 111 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Date of closure recommendation: 1991.

Date of military mission termination: December 1992.

Date of base closure: June 1993.

Summary of reuse plan: The plan calls for 2 acres to be transferred to the

Fish and Wildlife Service. Public benefit transfers will include 1,700 acres

for a civilian airport, 15 acres for parks, 10 acres for an educational

consortium, and 5 acres for a health facility. Two homeless assistance

providers are requesting about 7 acres of property, including 9 family

housing units and a 72-bed dormitory. The local authorities are planning to

request the remaining 466 acres, including housing units, utilities, and

property available for commercial development. Since Wurtsmith is a

qualifying rural area, it may be a no-cost economic development

conveyance. The Chippewa Indian tribe has expressed interest in buildings

for a casino, as well as some base housing, but it had not made a formal

request at the time of our review.

Golf course: None.

Implementation status: As of December 1994, the airfield facilities were

being operated on a 30-year, long-term lease. Under the lease agreement,

local authorities gave up the right to restoration, which otherwise would

have required the Air Force to remove unwanted buildings and a runway

from land originally leased from the state. The Air Force will continue to

handle caretaker costs for the rest of the base. The local authority is

subleasing some of the facilities to an aircraft remanufacturer, which has

created over 200 jobs. A final decision on disposition of the remaining

property cannot be reached until decisions are made on requests from the

homeless assistance providers and the Indian tribe.

Civilian jobs lost due to closure: 705.

Civilian jobs created as of 3/31/95: 553.

Page 112 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix III 

Profiles of Planned Property Disposals at 

37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Federal Assistance

Office of Economic Adjustment planning grants $1,226,318

Economic Development Administration grants 9,717,500

Federal Aviation Administration grants 508,000

Department of Labor job training grants 1,250,000

Total $12,701,818

The Economic Development Administration granted Iosco County

$7,717,500 for infrastructure improvements and other assistance, including

funds to connect the base to municipal water and wastewater systems and

to improve and expand the capacity of those systems to handle the

increased load. The grant also included $375,000 for marketing and

promotion and $750,000 for technical assistance to survey and subdivide

the property and map public streets and the utility lines. The Economic

Development Administration granted the county an additional $2 million

to establish a revolving loan fund for financing the expansion of existing

businesses and for attracting new businesses to the area. The Federal

Aviation Administration grants were for airport facilities, equipment, and

planning.

Environmental cleanup:

National Priorities List site: No.

Contaminants: Waste fuel and oil, spent solvents, and volatile organic

compounds.

Estimated cleanup cost: $70 million.

Cleanup of groundwater contamination under the housing area will take

some time, but base officials hope to have remediation measures in place

by 1999.

Estimated date cleanup complete or remedy in place: 1999.

Page 113 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix IV 

Summary of Jobs Created at 37 Bases

Closed in the 1988 and 1991 Rounds

Table IV.1: Summary of Jobs Created

at 37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and

1991 Rounds Base Jobs lost Jobs created

Recovery

(Percent)

Army Materials Technology

Laboratory 540 0 0.00

Bergstrom Air Force Base 942 0 0.00

Cameron Station 4,355 0 0.00

Castle Air Force Base 1,164 0 0.00

Chanute Air Force Base 1,035 1,002 96.81

Chase Naval Air Station 914 1,520 166.30

Davisville Naval Construction

Battalion Center 125 29 23.20

Eaker Air Force Basea 792 106 13.38

England Air Force Base 697 718 103.01

Fort Benjamin Harrison 4,240 0 0.00

Fort Devens 2,178 0 0.00

Fort Ord 2,835 92 3.25

Fort Sheridan 1,681 18 1.07

Fort Wingate Army Depot 90 0 0.00

George Air Force Base 506 209 41.30

Grissom Air Force Base 807 28 3.47

Jefferson Proving Ground 387 0 0.00

Lexington Army Depot 1,131 0 0.00

Long Beach Naval Station/Naval

Hospital 417 0 0.00

Loring Air Force Basea 1,326 144 10.86

Lowry Air Force Base 2,290 104 4.54

Mather Air Force Base 1,012 241 23.81

Moffett Naval Air Station 633 194 30.65

Myrtle Beach Air Force Base 799 588 73.59

Norton Air Force Base 2,133 25 1.17

Pease Air Force Base 400 1,038 259.50

Philadelphia Naval Station/Naval

Hospital/ Naval Shipyard 8,119 0 0.00

Presidio of San Francisco 3,150 725 23.02

Puget Sound Naval Station (Sand

Point) 754 0 0.00

Richards-Gebaur Air Reserve

Station 569 0 0.00

Rickenbacker Air Guard Basea 1,129 8 0.71

Sacramento Air Depot 3,164 630 19.91

Tustin Marine Corps Air Station 348 0 0.00

(continued)

Page 114 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix IV 

Summary of Jobs Created at 37 Bases

Closed in the 1988 and 1991 Rounds

Base Jobs lost Jobs created

Recovery

(Percent)

Warminster Naval Air Warfare

Center 1,979 0 0.00

Williams Air Force Base 781 368 47.12

Woodbridge Air Research Facility 90 0 0.00

Wurtsmith Air Force Base 705 553 78.44

Totals 54,217 8,340 15.38

aJobs created related to caretaker operations

Source: Office of Economic Adjustment

Page 115 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix V 

Cash Grants Given to Facilitate Reuse Plans

at 37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Table V.1: Cash Grants Given to Facilitate Reuse Plans at 37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991 Rounds

Base

Total OEA

grantsa

Total FAA

grantsb

Total EDA

grantsc

Total DOL

grantsd Total all grants

Army Materials Technology Laboratory $185,000 $0 $262,500 $0 $447,500

Bergstrom Air Force Base 200,000 110,841,266 0 1,228,260 112,269,526

Cameron Station 0 0 0 0 0

Castle Air Force Base 920,706 2,143,000 4,500,000 0 7,563,706

Chanute Air Force Base 962,978 937,830 2,500,000 3,000,000 7,400,808

Chase Naval Air Station 1,105,411 134,000 4,162,500 875,151 6,277,062

Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center 133,000 0 0 0 133,000

Eaker Air Force Base 2,287,786 90,000 1,962,600 0 4,340,386

England Air Force Base 2,174,047 149,850 6,411,800 500,000 9,235,697

Fort Benjamin Harrison 471,923 0 50,000 4,592,752 5,114,675

Fort Devens 2,312,381 0 1,625,000 2,000,000 5,937,381

Fort Ord 6,984,223 155,700 19,592,000 800,000 27,531,923

Fort Sheridan 509,470 0 0 0 509,470

Fort Wingate Army Depot 0 0 0 0 0

George Air Force Base 533,648 118,638 6,525,000 1,000,000 8,177,286

Grissom Air Force Base 1,139,528 0 50,000 612,500 1,802,028

Jefferson Proving Ground 329,500 0 900,000 875,000 2,104,500

Lexington Army Depot 100,000 0 0 0 100,000

Long Beach Naval Station/Naval Hospital 349,188 0 0 0 349,188

Loring Air Force Base 1,903,263 50,000 2,267,000 2,100,000 6,320,263

Lowry Air Force Base 1,771,525 0 112,500 800,000 2,684,025

Mather Air Force Base 933,670 238,526 75,000 1,750,000 2,997,196

Moffett Naval Air Station 0 0 0 3,558,678 3,558,678

Myrtle Beach Air Force Base 1,180,006 18,948,100 3,500,000 925,000 24,553,106

Norton Air Force Base 726,000 3,438,638 6,825,000 2,916,000 13,905,638

Pease Air Force Base 859,790 7,774,618 10,200,000 0 18,834,408

Philadelphia Naval Station/Naval

Hospital/Naval Shipyard 52,008,890 0 2,700,000 11,150,000 65,858,890

Presidio of San Francisco 0 0 0 500,000 500,000

Puget Sound Naval Station (Sand Point) 182,000 0 0 0 182,000

Richards-Gebaur Air Reserve Station 241,985 1,572,000 0 0 1,813,985

Rickenbacker Air Guard Base 111,000 1,110,803 0 684,545 1,906,348

Sacramento Army Depot 436,010 0 0 1,750,000 2,186,010

Tustin Marine Corps Air Station 838,500 0 0 0 838,500

Warminster Naval Air Warfare Center 756,000 0 0 1,600,000 2,356,000

Williams Air Force Base 1,515,339 3,018,000 587,500 2,000,000 7,120,839

(continued)

Page 116 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix V 

Cash Grants Given to Facilitate Reuse Plans

at 37 Bases Closed in the 1988 and 1991

Rounds

Base

Total OEA

grantsa

Total FAA

grantsb

Total EDA

grantsc

Total DOL

grantsd Total all grants

Woodbridge Air Research Facility 50,000 0 0 0 50,000

Wurtsmith Air Force Base 1,226,318 508,000 9,717,500 1,250,000 12,701,818

Totals $85,439,085 $151,228,969 $84,525,900 $46,467,886 $367,661,840

aOffice of Economic Adjustment.

bFederal Aviation Administration.

cEconomic Development Administration.

dDepartment of Labor.

Page 117 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Appendix VI 

Major Contributors to This Report

National Security and

International Affairs

Division, Washington,

D.C.

James F. Wiggins

John J. Klotz

John M. Schaefer

Gary W. Ulrich

Donald J. Porteous

Page 118 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Related GAO Products

GAO has issued the following reports related to military base closures and

realignments:

Military Base Closures: Analysis of DOD’s Process and Recommendations

for 1995 (GAO/T-NSIAD-95-132, Apr. 17, 1995).

Military Bases: Analysis of DOD’s 1995 Process and Recommendations for

Closure and Realignment (GAO/NSIAD-95-133, Apr. 14, 1995).

Military Bases: Challenges in Identifying and Implementing Closure

Recommendations (GAO/T-NSIAD-95-107, Feb. 23, 1995).

Military Bases: Environmental Impact at Closing Installations

(GAO/NSIAD-95-70, Feb. 23, 1995).

Military Bases: Reuse Plans for Selected Bases Closed in 1988 and 1991

(GAO/NSIAD-95-3, Nov. 1, 1994).

Military Bases: Letters and Requests Received on Proposed Closures and

Realignments (GAO/NSIAD-93-173S, May 25, 1993).

Military Bases: Army’s Planned Consolidation of Research, Development,

Test and Evaluation (GAO/NSIAD-93-150, Apr. 29, 1993).

Military Bases: Analysis of DOD’s Recommendations and Selection Process

for Closure and Realignments (GAO/T-NSIAD-93-11, Apr. 19, 1993).

Military Bases: Analysis of DOD’s Recommendations and Selection Process

for Closures and Realignments (GAO/NSIAD-93-173, Apr. 15, 1993).

Military Bases: Revised Cost and Savings Estimates for 1988 and 1991

Closures and Realignments (GAO/NSIAD-93-161, Mar. 31, 1993).

Military Bases: Transfer of Pease Air Force Base Slowed by Environmental

Concerns (GAO/NSIAD-93-111FS, Feb. 3, 1993).

Military Bases: Navy’s Planned Consolidation of RDT&E Activities

(GAO/NSIAD-92-316, Aug. 20, 1992).

Military Bases: Observations on the Analyses Supporting Proposed

Closures and Realignments (GAO/NSIAD-91-224, May 15, 1991).

Page 119 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
Related GAO Products

Military Bases: An Analysis of the Commission’s Realignment and Closure

Recommendations (GAO/NSIAD-90-42, Nov. 29, 1989).

(709100) Page 120 GAO/NSIAD-95-139 Military Bases
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