CLOSURE CLEANUP - GAO REPORT

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

GAO REPORT ON CLOSURE CLEANUP

 The General Accounting Office recently published a review 
of cleanup efforts at military bases being closed under Base 
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) legislation. 

 Not surprisingly, it found that costs have risen substantially 
above original estimates: "Comprehensive estimates developed by 
84 installations for their April, 1994 cleanup plans totaled about 
$5.4 billion. GAO found that even these estimates are understated."

 In reviewing 79 cleanup plans, GAO counted 51 bases with 
polluted groundwater, 67 with contaminated landfills, and 25 with 
unexploded ordnance (UXO), but it did not distinguish between 
munitions disposal sites and former impact ranges. Those results are 
presented in tabular form - that is, base by base.

 The armed services have identified as uncontaminated 
121,200 acres out of a total of 250,100 acres from the first two 
rounds of closure. However, regulators agencies have concurred 
that 34,499 are clean enough for transfer. 63% of the total acreage is 
slated to remain in Federal hands.

 GAO suggested that many bases don't merit a high-priority 
"fast-track" cleanup program, if they remain in Federal hands and 
the reuse is not likely to create new risks. It found that there are 
obstacles to the use of innovative cleanup technologies. Finally, it 
concluded that the Fast Track Cleanup process "has helped the 
cleanup process, but the Defense Department has not yet fully 
developed measures to assess performance."

 "Military Bases: Environmental Impact at Closing 
Installations," was published in February, 1995 as GAO/NSIAD-95-
70. Like other GAO reports, it can be ordered (single copies are 
free) by calling 202/512-6000 or sending a fax to 301/258-4066.

Lenny Siegel