WASHINGTON, DC-The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released its report on the Pentagon''s base realignment and closure process (BRAC). The report is required by law and follows the release of base closure and realignment recommendations. It examines the overall process and cites specific examples of some bases, including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In its report, the GAO pointed out that while the Navy recognizes the superior efficiency of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, it had difficulty in adequately quantifying PNSYs efficiency in terms of military value and cost savings. The report also highlighted that in the Department of Navy''s initial analysis, the determination was made that no shipyard should be closed. Further, closing PNSY would hinder the Navy''s ability to make unanticipated repairs to its fleet. The report also calls into question whether the Pentagon used accurate and complete information when determining what the overall cost and cost savings would be to the military by closing Portsmouth. Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Sununu (R-NH) and Representatives Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Tom Allen (D-ME), Charles Bass (R-NH) and Michael Michaud (D-ME) have released this statement with regard to the GAO report: "As we near the field hearing in Boston to consider whether Portsmouth Naval Shipyard should be closed, this report contains some good and encouraging news. We believe that we have a solid and compelling case to make before the BRAC commissioners next week that DoD substantially deviated from BRAC criteria when recommending the Yard for closure, and this GAO report highlights some of our arguments."
####