Rep. Young-Authored BRIC Legislation Included in FY13 National Defense Authorization Act

Press Release

Flanked by officials from the River Ridge Development Authority, Rep. Todd Young (R-IN9) announced at a press conference on Monday that the language in H.R. 4407, the Base Redevelopment and Indemnification Correction (BRIC) Act, has been included in the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Introduced by Young a few weeks ago, the BRIC Act would provide legal protections to businesses who help redevelop former military installations which were closed outside of the standard Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. Those same protections are already given for businesses who redevelop BRAC-closed facilities. River Ridge, which sits on the non-BRAC-closed site of the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (INAAP), and would immediately benefit.

"The fact that the House Armed Services Committee has included this legislation in the NDAA greatly increases the likelihood that this will become law," said Young. "River Ridge may be our biggest opportunity for economic growth and job creation in the area, and I'm happy to help move that opportunity one step closer to reality. This is a huge win for Jeffersonville, Clark County and all of southern Indiana."

The northern portion of INAAP--which is now Charlestown State Park--was closed under the BRAC process established in 1988. But the southern portion--which is reserved for economic development by the state and Clark County through the River Ridge Development Authority--was not. While the federal government has cleaned up much of the property, businesses that help redevelop River Ridge are not currently guaranteed protection from issues that might arise from the production of ammunition decades ago.

River Ridge officials agreed that Young's legislation will be vital in helping to spur economic growth and job creation in the area.

"We appreciate Representative Young's attention to this legislation and its importance to ongoing development at River Ridge Commerce Center," said Ned Pfau, vice president of River Ridge Development Authority board of directors. "A proactive approach is important in protecting our current and future tenants in the event of any undiscovered environmental cleanup issues. We are hopeful this legislation will pass and add another layer of protection for future development projects on the property."

The NDAA is an annual bill produced by the House Armed Services Committee--of which Young is a member--which authorizes how and where the federal government can spend defense dollars. The Committee will likely vote on May 9 to approve the bill, with passage in the full House expected the following week. The BRIC Act language can be found in the current draft in Title XXVIII, Section 2813.

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