[CPEO-MEF] Committee Language Highlights Two Fort Ord Issues

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>]

[The following language from the House Military Construction
Appropriations Bill Committee Reports addresses two issues at Ford Ord:
Affordable housing and the disposal of lead-based paint and PCBs as a
result of building demolition.  --Aimee]


"California-Fort Ord: Affordable Housing.--There are
circumstances under which local reuse authorities stand to generate
substantial revenues from the conveyance of closed or realigned bases and
the facilities on the installation. In those instances, it is appropriate
for the authority to work cooperatively with the services, and state and
local governments, to ensure that those revenues are directed towards
public purposes. 

"For example, in Monterey County, California, the local base reuse
authority stands to generate substantial revenues from the conveyance of
Fort Ord by developing new homes on open land as well as retrofitting
existing homes on the base, for which the authority paid nothing, and
selling this housing at prices that reflect the market rates in the area.
Though the plan of the reuse authority is well-intentioned, the area
suffers from a serious shortage of housing that is affordable for lower
and middle-income families. The median home price in the area is
$400,000, which is simply unaffordable to working families making 60 or
80 percent of area median income. 

"Clearly, it is in the best interests of the local reuse authority
and government to find ways to make affordable homes available for hard
working families, particularly when the property is being conveyed at no
cost to the community. There are many housing programs--private and
public--that undertake multi-income projects with little effort and
minimal effects on profit margins. The reuse authority in Monterey County
is urged to consider including such a program in its overall reuse plan.
In addition, the authority is urged to increase the amount of affordable
housing at the former Fort Ord." 

"California-Fort Ord: Hazardous Waste from Building
Removal.--The Committee is concerned about the environmental
challenges associated with the base closure re-use issues at the former
Fort Ord in California and the disposal of lead-based paint (LBP),
asbestos, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) that will be generated
during building removal. Accordingly, the Army shall develop,
demonstrate, and validate innovative technologies to specifically address
the remediation of LBP, asbestos, and PCBs generated from the 12th Street
Corridor building removal at Fort Ord. These technologies may include,
but are not necessarily limited to, thermochemical conversion processes.
A successful technology solution from this effort will also be beneficial
for other closed or realigned defense installations facing similar
challenges. 

"The Department of the Army shall work with the Fort Ord Reuse
Authority in its efforts to advance the 12th Street Corridor Project and
report on the progress of these technology efforts as part of the
mandated Environmental Quality Technology Report to Congress until this
project is completed, at which time a final report specifically focused
on this initiative will be provided to Congress which should make
suggestions for further building removal activities."

Please note new phone number and address below.

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Aimee R. Houghton                                 

Associate Director, CPEO

1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000

Washington, DC  20036

tel: 202-452-8039; fax: 202-452-8095

Email: aimeeh@cpeo.org

www.cpeo.org

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