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Ensuring bases honorably discharged

Shutting down a military base is a lot more complicated than merely redeploying troops and equipment.

The post-Cold War reduction of the armed forces has raised numerous issues, including the economic health of communities that have relied on the military.

Most communities have vigorously opposed closings. To break the gridlock resulting from political attempts to save individual bases, Congress created the Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) in 1988.

BRAC receives recommendations from the Department of Defense, holds hearings, and independently decides on a list of bases to be closed or realigned. Once the president approves BRAC's recommendations, Congress must either pass a joint resolution blocking the entire list, requiring a majority from both houses, or the entire list becomes law.

Even if Congress votes against the list, the president can still veto the resolution, and a two-thirds majority is required to override the veto. The BRAC process thus makes it extremely difficult for Congress to block the closure list, and virtually impossible for Congress members to save individual bases.

The first BRAC closings were passed in 1988, and additional rounds were approved in 1991, 1993 and 1995. Defense Secretary William Cohen has proposed more BRAC rounds for 2001 and 2005, though Congress has not yet approved these. Around 250 bases have been closed or realigned since 1988.

Redeveloping bases is likewise a slow, complicated process. Developers must cut through military bureaucracy and other obstacles, including environmental cleanup and jurisdictional issues (Some base properties encompass more than one community).

However, help is available. Each major base closure in the United States is accompanied by exhaustive, government-sponsored research on the potential impact on the surrounding community. The studies are available to the public. They detail changes likely to occur in economic activity, population, housing, public services, finance, transportation and utilities. They also examine community-preferred options for new uses and the likely subsequent demand for goods and services.

One source of help is the Base Closure Information Clearinghouse run by the Department of Commerce (1-800-345-1222). In cooperation with the Department of Defense, a World Wide Web site detailing information for people interested in developing, buying or leasing base property is available at <http://www.armedforces.com/resourc/Links/Parcels.htm>.

A trade group called the National Association of Installation Developers (NAID) offers its members networking opportunities, technical assistance, educational programs, and a newsletter detailing issues that are related to base closings. NAID can be reached at (202) 822-5256.