Statement of Governor Warner On Wednesday's Action by the BRAC Commission

Statement of Governor Warner On Wednesday's Action by the BRAC Commission

Today, the BRAC Commission took a mixed series of actions on military bases in Virginia. Governor Mark R. Warner released the following statement, taken in the order these decisions were made:

"Fort Monroe has been considered in previous BRAC rounds, and while we're disappointed in today's decision, it does not come as a surprise to anyone. The major functions at Fort Monroe are being moved to nearby Fort Eustis.

"Hampton city officials, the state and our Congressional delegation have put up a spirited effort to try to keep Fort Monroe, and the state and local governments have already moved to create an economic development authority that will help redevelop the site. This is outstanding real estate, offering all sorts of possibilities for the city and the region.

"I have spoken with Mayor Ross Kearney, and we will insist that the federal government meets its responsibility to clean the site of pollution and old munitions, while protecting the historic nature of the property. The cost estimate for this clean-up now appears likely to exceed the Pentagon's original estimate by hundreds of millions of dollars.

"On NAS Oceana, today the BRAC Commission sent a very strong message to Virginia Beach and Chesapeake that military and citizen safety is their paramount concern.

"The local governments and the Commonwealth, together with our legislative and Congressional partners, will review the specifics of today's BRAC action and work to develop a strong plan to address these concerns and allow the Navy to retain this critical base in Virginia.

"The Department of Defense's and Navy's repeatedly stated commitment to Oceana is a clear indicator of their long-term desire for a Master Jet Base to remain in the mid-Atlantic region. Today's action by the BRAC Commission will allow the needs of the Navy to drive that long-term planning process.

"Virginia's position has consistently been that the same level of attention to encroachment and other issues that has been given to NAS Oceana should be given to any alternative site, including the former Cecil Field site in Florida.

"On the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a critical intelligence asset currently situated in Maryland, Virginia's Fort Belvoir will pick up several thousand high-skilled, intelligence sector jobs."

"The BRAC Commission also began work on recommendations affecting leased space in northern Virginia, voting to move the Defense Information Systems Agency and several thousand workers to Fort Meade, Maryland."

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Aug05/0824.htm