[CPEO-MEF] Navy May Close Puerto Rico Base : Washington Post, Jan. 11, 2003

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

_From Washington Post, January 11, 2003

 WASHINGTON IN BRIEF
 
  
 Navy May Close Puerto Rico Base 
  
The Navy will expand its use of bombing ranges in Florida and elsewhere
on the U.S. mainland -- and may close Roosevelt Roads naval station in
Puerto Rico -- after it abandons its training grounds on Vieques in May,
officials said yesterday.
 
  The naval station has been the largest employer in Puerto Rico.
"Without Vieques, there is no way I need the Navy facilities at
Roosevelt Roads," said Adm. Robert J. Natter, commander of the Atlantic
Fleet, in an interview. "It's a drain on Defense Department and taxpayer
dollars."
 
  Other Navy officials, however, said privately that any decision to
close Roosevelt Roads would have to be made by an independent
base-closing commission, as required by Congress, in 2005. Once the Navy
leaves Vieques, however, all operations at Roosevelt Roads associated
with Vieques will be discontinued, the officials said.
 
  Roosevelt Roads is home to the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern
Command, a Navy hospital and  other Navy facilities.
 
 •
   Compiled from reports by staff writer Christopher Lee and the
Associated Press
 
   
To view the entire article, go to 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47531-2003Jan12.html

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