SNOWE, COLLINS MOUNT EFFORT TO TURN OVER CLOSED BASES TO COMMUNITIES FREE OF CHARGE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) today voted for legislation they introduced requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to offer to transfer the property of bases closed by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process to local redevelopment authorities (LRA) free of charge. This amendment to the Fiscal Year 2006 Department of Defense Authorization bill failed by a vote of 36 to 62. Snowe and Collins also offered an additional BRAC amendment, which they expect will be included and passed as part of the bill.

"Despite the fact that this effort was an uphill fight from the beginning, we are deeply disappointed that our amendment was rejected," said Snowe and Collins. "This legislation would have put the decision-making power squarely in the hands of communities affected by base closures. We must now continue our focus on assisting leaders at the local and state level as they move ahead with the long economic recovery process."

This "No-Cost Conveyance" amendment would modify the BRAC Act to require that, when making determinations concerning the transfer of property at an installation, the Secretary of Defense must first offer that property to the community through its LRA. If the LRA accepts the offer, the Secretary is required to transfer the property to the LRA free of cost. The community's right to obtain the property would trump the Secretary's authority to transfer it otherwise.

The additional amendment offered by Snowe and Collins calls for a DoD investigation under the Superfund statute of the environmental condition of the property, including groundwater for the entire military installation, to be completed no later than May 31, 2007. The amendment also states that DoD shall consult with the Environmental Protection Agency, other federal agencies, and State, tribal and local governments.

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