[CPEO-MEF] Civilian housing a step closer at former Fort Ord

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Civilian housing a step closer at former Fort Ord
A PROPOSAL, SIGNED OFF BY THE GOVERNOR, WOULD ALLOW THE TRANSFER OF MORE 
THAN 1,200 FORMER MILITARY HOUSING UNITS
By David L. Beck
Mercury News

With a stroke of the pen Tuesday, Gov. Gray Davis eased a logjam at the 
former Fort Ord and made possible the transfer of more than 1,200 
housing units for civilian use.

U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Salinas, who has been pushing for the move, called 
it ``a long-awaited opportunity.''

The vast military reservation -- about the size of San Francisco -- was 
shut down a decade ago, and some of it was transferred to civilian use. 
California State University-Monterey Bay was created there, and the 
surrounding cities, Seaside and Marina, received an airfield and two 
golf courses, respectively.

But environmental concerns delayed the transfer of other portions. The 
Army was responsible for underground cleanup, but it was less clear 
whether old buildings that contained lead-based paint, for example, 
could be transferred without being cleaned up. Davis' action in 
concurring with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency permits what is 
called an ``early transfer'' before those environmental issues are 
resolved.

This article can be viewed in its entirety at:
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/3169914.htm

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