Order Code RS22065
Updated November 19, 2008
Military Base Closures: Cleanup of
Contaminated Properties for Civilian Reuse
David M. Bearden
Specialist in Environmental Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Summary
In 2005, the 109
th
Congress approved a new Base Realignment and Closure
(BRAC) round. As the Department of Defense (DOD) implements the new round,
issues for Congress include the pace and costs of closing and realigning the selected
installations and the impacts on surrounding communities. The disposal of surplus
property has stimulated interest among affected communities in how the land can be
redeveloped to replace jobs lost as a result of the planned closures. Environmental
contamination can limit the potential for economic redevelopment if the availability of
funding or technological capabilities constrains the degree of cleanup needed to make
the land suitable for its intended use. Although most of the properties on installations
closed under the four earlier rounds in 1988, 1991, 1993, and 1995 have been cleaned
up and made available for redevelopment, the most extensively contaminated properties
remain in various stages of cleanup to make them suitable for their desired use. Cleanup
began many years ago at 2005 round installations when they were still operational. As
a result, cleanup generally should be at a more advanced stage upon closure, compared
to installations closed under earlier rounds when cleanup efforts were less mature. Still,
installations closed under the 2005 round could face delays in redevelopment if a
community’s desired land use would require a lengthy and costly cleanup.
Introduction
Following the collapse of the former Soviet Union, Congress authorized the closure
of certain military installations under four BRAC rounds in 1988, 1991, 1993, and 1995.
These installations have been closed for many years, and the majority of the properties
have been made available for civilian purposes. However, cleanup efforts continue at
some of the most contaminated properties, delaying their reuse. Public desire for their
redevelopment has motivated ongoing concern about the pace and costs of cleaning up
these remaining properties. The completion of cleanup is often a key factor in economic
redevelopment, because a property cannot be used for its intended purpose until it is
cleaned up to a degree that would be suitable for that use. In 2005, the 109
th
Congress
