2001 CPEO Military List Archive

From: Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>
Date: 1 Oct 2001 17:50:31 -0000
Reply: cpeo-military
Subject: [CPEO-MEF] Committee Language Highlights Two Fort Ord Issues
 
[The following language from the House Military Construction Appropriations Bill Committee Reports addresses two issues at Ford Ord: Affordable housing and the disposal of lead-based paint and PCBs as a result of building demolition.  --Aimee]


"California-Fort Ord: Affordable Housing.--There are circumstances under which local reuse authorities stand to generate substantial revenues from the conveyance of closed or realigned bases and the facilities on the installation. In those instances, it is appropriate for the authority to work cooperatively with the services, and state and local governments, to ensure that those revenues are directed towards public purposes.

"For example, in Monterey County, California, the local base reuse authority stands to generate substantial revenues from the conveyance of Fort Ord by developing new homes on open land as well as retrofitting existing homes on the base, for which the authority paid nothing, and selling this housing at prices that reflect the market rates in the area. Though the plan of the reuse authority is well-intentioned, the area suffers from a serious shortage of housing that is affordable for lower and middle-income families. The median home price in the area is $400,000, which is simply unaffordable to working families making 60 or 80 percent of area median income.

"Clearly, it is in the best interests of the local reuse authority and government to find ways to make affordable homes available for hard working families, particularly when the property is being conveyed at no cost to the community. There are many housing programs--private and public--that undertake multi-income projects with little effort and minimal effects on profit margins. The reuse authority in Monterey County is urged to consider including such a program in its overall reuse plan. In addition, the authority is urged to increase the amount of affordable housing at the former Fort Ord."

"California-Fort Ord: Hazardous Waste from Building Removal.--The Committee is concerned about the environmental challenges associated with the base closure re-use issues at the former Fort Ord in California and the disposal of lead-based paint (LBP), asbestos, and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) that will be generated during building removal. Accordingly, the Army shall develop, demonstrate, and validate innovative technologies to specifically address the remediation of LBP, asbestos, and PCBs generated from the 12th Street Corridor building removal at Fort Ord. These technologies may include, but are not necessarily limited to, thermochemical conversion processes. A successful technology solution from this effort will also be beneficial for other closed or realigned defense installations facing similar challenges.

"The Department of the Army shall work with the Fort Ord Reuse Authority in its efforts to advance the 12th Street Corridor Project and report on the progress of these technology efforts as part of the mandated Environmental Quality Technology Report to Congress until this project is completed, at which time a final report specifically focused on this initiative will be provided to Congress which should make suggestions for further building removal activities."

 

Please note new phone number and address below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aimee R. Houghton                                 
Associate Director, CPEO
1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC  20036
tel: 202-452-8039; fax: 202-452-8095
Email: aimeeh@cpeo.org
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