DEPOT LISTING WON'T ALTER MISSION  

In fact, the UCD has been on the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) list since 1988.

Its reappearance on the list will have no affect on chemical incineration operations, according to Mary Binder, public affairs for the UCD.

"The depot came out on the BRAC list in 1988 for realignment," Binder said. "During the (Gulf) war, we sent out the conventional weapons. Our only mission is a chemical mission. We are working ourselves out of a job."

The BRAC list, released on Friday, listed 33 major base closures and 29 major base realignments — the largest list in the previous four BRAC announcements. The Depart-ment of Defense recommends to the BRAC committee a list of closures and/or realignments that will save taxpayer money. Part of the criteria for being on the BRAC is the military value of the property and the condition and availability of the land, facilities and associated airspace.

Oregon Congressman Greg Walden says he wasn't surprised by the depot's inclusion on the closure list.

"We came out of the list pretty good in our district," Walden said, referring to the fact that Kingsley Field, an Air Guard base in Klamath Falls will remain open.

Once the BRAC sees the recommended list from Department of Defense, it can add or subtract bases before sending the list to the president for approval. Once the president has seen the list, makes recommendations and/or approves, the list goes back to BRAC and then on to Congress for a vote.

Walden says Congress can either say yes to the whole plan or no; there isn't any opportunity to change the list.

"We can't pick and choose which ones we want to stay open," Walden said. "We still have an opportunity to weigh in (now), but it is much more difficult. You have to have a good reason (to keep a base open.)"

If President George W. Bush and then Congress approves the list, Binder says that will bring four programs to bear which will help the local community lessen the impact of the closure, slated for 2011, when destruction of the chemical stockpile should be completed.

Through the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), communities can request help with environmental issues, community assistance, real estate (re-use) and personnel.
Funding is available through different agencies, says Glenn Flood, DoD spokesperson.

"For example, the EPA can assist with the challenges of clean-up (of the depot)," Flood said. "The president signed an executive order on the 13th (last Friday) for all departments to be ready to assist communities."

There are departments that assist in facilitating closure by looking at re-use of a facility, according to Flood.

It is up to communities to request the assistance, Flood says.

He indicated that the National Association of Installation Developers, a group made up of communities that have been through the BRAC process, can be helpful in making the sometimes difficult transition of closing a base.