[CPEO-MEF] Air Force BRAC Cuts

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

On September 22, 2000 Air Force Secretary Whit Peters sent letters to
the Chairs and Ranking Minority Members of the House and Senate Military
Construction Appropriations Subcommittees, drawing attention to a
significant shortfall in the Air Force base closure cleanup account for
fiscal year 2001. The shortfall appears to be a consequence of
Congressional action taken in response to a General Accounting Office
report, earlier this year, suggesting that the military was not using
appropriated funds efficiently.

Here is the text of the substance of the letter:

"The Fiscal Year 2001 Military Construction Appropriationsss Act funded
$1.204B of the Department of Defense's $1.174B request for the Base
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) account. The Air Force BRAC program
received $103.5M of the $150M reduction. As a result, our environmental
cleanup program for the upcoming fiscal year is funded at only 42
percent. The specific impacts by base for the BRAC environmental program
and operation and maintenance program are shown on the attached graphic.
[You can request a copy of the map illustrating the Air Force BRAC cuts
from <cpeo@cpeo.org>. It's a 135K PowerPoint file]

"The impact of this cut is further exacerbated by recently uncovered
plutonium contamination at McClellan Air Force Bsae, CA. Preliminary
estimates are $38.4M over FY01/02 to clean up this new requirement. This
and other current year execution problems would be challenging, at best,
if the program was fully funded. Given the current funding scenario,
they are impossible without your help.

"In accordance with the public law, the BRAC appropriation is the sole
source of funds for environmental cleanup at BRAC installations.
Therefore, I respectfully request your committee restore the $150M
appropriation for BRAC environmental cleanup. Your support will allow
the Air Force to continue its aggressive program of cleanup and reuse of
closed bases. Air Force BRAC bases now host over 38,000 jobs at over 30
locations throughout the country.

"Thank you for your strong support ..."

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/968-1126
lsiegel@cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org

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