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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Many of you have questions about the base closure process. What follows is a list of questions and answers that will help you understand the process better. Please let us know if you still have a question or two. Chances are, if you're asking the question, so is someone else. We can include your questions on this page as well.
1. What is BRAC?
BRAC is an acronym that stands for Base Realignment and Closure. It is the process the Department of Defense (DoD) uses to reorganize its base structure to more efficiently and effectively support our forces, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business.
2. What is BLRA?
BLRA stands for Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority. The BLRA is a group of elected officials and citizens designated by the Town of Brunswick and recognized by the Secretary of Defense that will develop a reuse plan for the Brunswick Naval Air Station (BNAS) when it closes in 2011.
In the fall of 2005, BNAS was officially designated as one of the many bases that would be moved to another location. As operations at BNAS are transferred to Jacksonville, Florida, the Base here in Brunswick will be redeveloped for government, public or private use. As the "planning" LRA, we will have a Master Reuse Plan submitted to the Navy and to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for approval by December 2007.
3. Who makes up the Board of Directors?
BLRA has a 13-member board that is dedicated to creating a beneficial and viable reuse plan for the base. You can find contact information for the board members by
clicking here.
4. Who makes up the BLRA Staff?
The seven-member BLRA staff are experienced in land use planning, business and economic development and financing, public participation process and public communication, public policy and financial analysis, public infrastructure, and grant management. They are dedicated to a thoroughly public involvement process when designing a master reuse plan for BNAS. Go to Contacts to learn more about the staff.
5. How long is the planning process?
The planning process will take approximately 18 to 24 months and will be completed by December 2007.
6. What are the BLRAs goals?
The BLRA is responsible for developing a reuse plan for the Brunswick Naval Air Station. Our task is to work with the public, the Navy, government officials and other interested parties to:
a. Develop a new vision for this valuable property
b. Develop a specific plan of action to achieve this vision
BLRA holds no preconceived notions as to what should happen with the Base property. Our goal is to proceed through the various screening processes while at the same time involving the public in developing a viable, beneficial master reuse plan.
7. What is meant by the Federal Screening Process?
This is the process the Navy uses to screen request for buildings, land and equipment from other federal agencies. The BLRA provides input on which properties should be utilized by federal agencies and which ones should not. Once the Navy determines which properties will be set aside for federal agencies, the remaining properites are deemed as surplus and are available for the state, local and homeless provider screenings, and the private sector.
8. Where does the Federal Screening Process stand today?
Three federal agency requests have been granted to the Navy. They are:
You can find the complete description of surplus property by clicking here.
9. What is meant by the Homeless Provider Screening Process?
Now that the Navy has made its "Declaration of Surplus", we can begin soliciting interest in surplus federal property from homeless providers. The requested property will assist those eligible agencies in satisfying the unmet needs of the homeless in the "vicinity of the base." The "vicinity" has been identified as Brunswick, Harpswell, Freeport, Durham, and Sagadahoc County. There is an application process and eligibility criteria, both of which will be posted on this website shortly. The beginning of this federally mandated screening process was publicized in local newspapers on Friday, February 9, 2007. The homeless provider screening process should be completed by July 2007.
10. What is meant by the State and Local Screening Process?
Like the homeless provider screening process, the state and local screening process could not begin until the Navy makes its Declaration of Surplus Property. With the Navy's announcement, governments and other nonprofit organizations can begin the application process to obtain a "public benefit conveyance" of property. Examples of such organizations include: education, health, parks and recreation, historic monuments, public airports, highways, and self-help housing, among others. This process gives interested parties the opportunity to make an application to the BLRA to use base property for their organizations.
The beginning of this federally mandated screening process was publicized in local newspapers on Friday, February 9, 2007. The state and local screening process should be completed by July 2007.
11. What is the Master Reuse Plan?
The master reuse plan is the means by which a community defines a comprehensive reuse strategy, and it serves as a guide to the Military Department for the disposal of surplus property, leading to the orderly transfer of federal property from the Department of Defense to civilian reuse. The master reuse plan will identify the proposed land uses, supporting infrastructure, phasing schedule, and capital improvement programs needed to implement the plan. While the community identifies specific land uses in the plan, the Military Department, as the property disposal agent, identifies the final property disposal mechanisms.
12. Who is involved in developing the Master Reuse Plan?
The plan involves a variety of entities including all major stakeholders affected by the closure such as local residents and elected officials, state officials, the BLRA Board of Directors and staff.
13. What is the environmental condition of the property?
There are many areas around the Base that have been undergoing extensive clean up efforts. These efforts would be going on whether or not the Base was closing. In addition to this clean-up effort the Department of the Navy has just completed its "Environmental Conditions of Property" report. Click here to read the report. Please note, this is a large file and may take some time to download.
14. How can I become involved?
There are several ways you can become involved with the planning process. You can participate in public workshops, make your voice heard on this website, go on "Bus to the Base" tours, and attend board and committee meetings. In addition, we publish a monthly newsletter that you can subscribe to. We strive to present a transparent process where citizens, interested parties, and government officials are all involved in the planning process. (Source information:
Base Redevelopment Planning for BRAC Sites, Office of Economic Adjustment - May 2006)
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