Military Base Realignments and Closures
Military Base Realignments and Closures

Author: Brian J. Lepore

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2009-05

Total Pages: 54

ISBN-13: 143791330X

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The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round is the biggest, most complex, and costliest BRAC round ever. In addition to base closures, many recommendations involve realignments, such as returning forces to the U.S. from bases overseas and creating joint bases. However, anticipated savings remained an important consideration in justifying the need for the 2005 BRAC round. This report assessed: (1) challenges that might affect timely completion of recommendations; (2) any changes in DoD's reported cost and savings estimates since FY 2008; and (3) the potential for estimates to continue to change. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

Military Base Closures: Opportunities Exist to Improve Environmental Cleanup Cost Reporting & to Expedite Transfer of Unneeded Property
Military Base Closures: Opportunities Exist to Improve Environmental Cleanup Cost Reporting & to Expedite Transfer of Unneeded Property

Author:

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 60

ISBN-13: 9781422314203

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While expected environmental cleanup costs for unneeded property arising from the 2005 BRAC round are not yet fully known, Department of Defense (DOD) data indicate that about $950 million will be needed to clean up these bases, adding to the estimated $13.2 billion total cleanup cost for the prior rounds. Although DOD's cleanup program has matured compared to prior BRAC rounds, there are still many unknowns and the cleanup estimate for the 2005 round should be considered preliminary. In fact, environmental cleanup costs are likely to increase as more intensive environmental investigations are undertaken, additional hazardous conditions are discovered, and future reuse plans are finalized. Furthermore, Congress does not have full visibility over the total cost of DOD's BRAC cleanup efforts because none of the four reports DOD prepares on various aspects of environmental cleanup present all types of costs past and future to complete cleanup at each base. Compiling a complete picture of all costs requires extracting information from multiple reports, as GAO has done to estimate the total cleanup cost for the four prior BRAC rounds. More complete and transparent cost information would assist Congress in conducting its oversight responsibilities for this multibillion dollar effort.

Military bases analysis of DOD's 2005 selection process and recommendations for base closures and realignments : report to the congressional committees.
Military bases analysis of DOD's 2005 selection process and recommendations for base closures and realignments : report to the congressional committees.

Author:

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1428931597

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On May 13, 2005, the Secretary of Defense submitted proposed base realignment and closure (BRAC) actions to an independent commission for its review. The Commission must submit its recommendations to the President by September 8, 2005, for his acceptance or rejection in their entirety. Congress has final action to accept or reject these recommendations in their entirety later this year. The law required that GAO issue a report on the Department of Defense's (DoD) recommendations and selection process by July 1, 2005. GAO's objectives for this report were as follows: (1) determine the extent to which DoD's proposals achieved its stated BRAC goals, (2) analyze whether the process for developing recommendations was logical, and (3) identify issues with the recommendations that may warrant further attention. Time constraints limited GAO's ability to examine implementation details of most of the individual recommended actions. DoD had varying success in achieving its 2005 BRAC goals of reducing excess infrastructure and producing savings, furthering transformation, and fostering jointness. While DoD proposed a record number of closures and realignments, exceeding all prior BRAC rounds combined, many proposals focused on reserve bases and relatively few on closing active bases. Projected savings are almost equally large, but most savings are derived from 10 percent of the recommendations. While GAO believes savings would be achieved, overall up-front investment costs of an estimated $24 billion are required, and there are clear limitations associated with DoD's projection of nearly $50 billion in savings over a 20-year period. Much of the projected net annual recurring savings (47 percent) is associated with eliminating jobs currently held by military personnel. However, rather than reducing end-strength levels, DoD indicates the positions are expected to be reassigned to other areas, which may enhance capabilities but also limit dollar savings available for other use7.