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BRAC

Michael Forlini | Aug 6, 2008

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Base realignment and closure (BRAC) legislation was designed to eliminate unneeded military infrastructure more efficiently and expeditiously. The impact on local communities is huge. Some communities are devastated by the low jobs and spending, while other communities gear up for an increased military infrastructure. The BRAC process already has closed or realigned 152 major Department of Defense (DoD) installations and 235 smaller ones.

BRAC is a very complicated law. It relies heavily on the recommendations concerning installation closure and realignment submitted by the armed services and DoD. These recommendations are based on the National Security Strategy and mission requirements. The methodologies and criteria used to assess base structure and the recommendations of the services and DoD have worked extremely well.

Many of these military infrastructures pose an environmental risk to soils and groundwater. These sites may contain a significant amount of military waste, such as unexploded ordnance (UXO) waste.
The Superfund removal program has responded with emergency authority in removing UXO waste that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. State hazardous waste programs may also provide the needed oversight in removing and remediating any potential waste at these former defense sites.

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