Young Reintroduces BRIC Act to Help Redevelop River Ridge, other Former Military Installations

Press Release

Rep. Todd Young (R-IN9) reintroduced his Base Redevelopment and Indemnification Correct (BRIC) Act as H.R. 2258 on Wednesday, a bill that would help redevelop former military installations such as the River Ridge Commerce Center in Clark County.

"River Ridge remains one of the greatest economic development opportunities in the entire state, and I remain committed to seeing that opportunity develop," said Young. "Indiana has broken ground on the East End bridge, and plans are in the works to connect River Ridge to that new interstate connection. This site is poised for a huge boom in new job opportunities for Hoosiers. I'm proud to fight for legislation that gives that prospect every chance of success."

Developers of former military installations closed through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission after 1988 are granted indemnification from legal action if environmental issues arise as a result of previous Defense Department activity, and from the costs associated with such issues. Those same protections are not currently extended to installations closed outside of the BRAC Commission process, which can make redevelopment of such sites harder and costlier.

The River Ridge Commerce Center sits on the site of the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (INAAP). The northern portion of INAAP--which is now Charlestown State Park--was closed through a BRAC Commission. But the southern portion--which is reserved for economic development by the state and county through the River Ridge Development Authority, and where most of the ammunition production occurred for decades--was not. While the federal government has cleaned up most of the property, businesses that help redevelop River Ridge are currently left with an enormous liability risk. Several other sites around the country, especially former ammunition plants, are in a similar situation.

"If the federal government created potential environmental problems, they ought to be responsible for resolving those problems," said Young. "If we allow them to pass the buck to the private individuals and businesses trying to redevelop the site, then we'll make River Ridge a less attractive magnet for new job and economic growth."

Young first introduced the BRIC Act in 2012, and the language was adopted in the House-passed version of the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The language was stripped out of the final version, however, in favor of Senate-passed language that required a Department of Defense study of the impact of such legislation. That study is due this fall, and Young's filing of the bill today prepares for action upon its release.

Indiana's 9th District includes all or parts of Brown, Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan, Orange, Scott, and Washington Counties in south central Indiana.

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