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Island Command's mission focuses on attainment, maintenance and sustainment of all requirements in support of MPF operations. MPF Maintenance Cycle operations conducted at Blount Island are vital to maintaining the readiness and continued capability of the MPF program. (Current mission)

REQUIREMENT:

Ownership of the Blount Island facility ensures the Marine Corps will have a suitable permanent base for MPS maintenance operations. The Blount Island Command (BIC) is responsible for the management of the Marine Corps prepositioning programs. It plans and conducts the maintenance and

embarkation of Maritime Prepositioned Forces (MPF) at the Blount Island facility. The MPS concept provides for rapid deployment of personnel and equipment of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) by airlift, to link up with prepositioned equipment and supplies embarked aboard MPS that are forward positioned for contingency response. MPS maintenance is conducted at 36-month intervals for 16 MPF ships. The BIC has an average of 60 days per ship to complete the entire operation (downloading of all equipment, ammunition, and supplies; maintenance, acquisition, and rotation of equipment and supplies; and uploading).

Blount Island is a vital national strategic asset, through its role in support of the MPF program and mobilization in crises. Since 1986 the MPF maintenance cycle for prepositioned equipment and supplies has been conducted at BIC. BIC is part of the strategic enabler entitled ''Strategic Mobility, and is an asset that is critical to the worldwide application of U.S. military power and strategy under the strategic concepts outlined in the National Military Strategy of Forward Presence and Crisis Response. Under these concepts the MPF program provides rapid and efficient strategic deployment options through strategic siting around the globe for the geographic and combatant Commander-in-Chief (CINC). This enables MPF to be especially responsive to regional crises and disaster relief.

CURRENT SITUATION:

The Marine Corps currently leases approximately 764 acres of land for the Maritime Prepositioning Force Maintenance Site at Blount Island, Jacksonville, Florida. The 15 year lease expires in 2004 with a renewal option to 2010. The Blount Island facility offers a developed area currently configured to support MPS operations. The site has approximately 600,000 square feet of buildings, a 1,000 foot pier, a

Form

DD 1 Dec 76 1391C

Submitted to Congress

Page No. 148

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33-acre concrete staging area and terminal with approximately 8,000 feet
of rail spur.
Each ship docks within a 4,600 foot by 300 foot channel
maintained at a depth of 36 feet. The leased land and improvements are
owned by Gate Maritime Properties, Inc. (Gate). The lease provides for
unimpeded MPS operations (from potentially competing pierfront usages) as
well as for maintenance of a clear zone derived from the explosive safety
quantity distance Explosive Safety Quantity Distance (ESQD) arc.

The Port of Jacksonville serves as a major strategic Seaport of Embarkation/Debarkation in direct support of Commander, U.S. Transportation Command. In addition, during periods of crisis/conflict the Blount Island facility routinely provides a significant throughput surge capability and versatility in support of mobilization operations. This was clearly demonstrated during operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm by Blount Island's ability to out-load 59 ships.

BIC

In addition to the exceptional sea access, the site is served by a direct highway and mainline rail access. An additional 4-lane vehicle bridge to the island was recently completed along with widening of the connector highway leading to Interstate 295 only 2 miles distant. Jacksonville International Airport is only 20 minutes from the Blount Island site. provides an ongoing prepositioned equipment maintenance operating location that offers an autonomous exclusive-use facility contiguous with in-place infrastructure. The weather accommodates year-round operations. The pier is dedicated to the prepositioning mission. There is an experienced workforce in place supported by a large industrial base resident in the Jacksonville area.

Numerous studies have examined almost 100 sites since 1985. All studies have concluded that Blount Island is not only the best site, but also the only viable place to accomplish the MPF maintenance mission as well as provide wartime capability to support massive logistics sustainment from the continental United States.

IMPACT IF NOT PROVIDED:

The Marine Corps will continue to lease the facility to support long-term requirements. The lease cost will exceed the estimated purchase value by year 2004 at which point we will have spent approximately $155M. Continuing to lease is risky, costly, contrary to Department of Defense policy and opposed by Office of Management and Budget. Ownership of Blount Island satisfies current and future MPF requirements. Acquisition of Blount Island is the most cost effective solution for the Nation and

Form

DD 1 Dec 76 1391C

Submitted to Congress

Page No. 149

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A. Estimated Design Data: (Parametric estimates have been used to develop project costs. Project design conforms to Part II of Military Handbook 1190, Facility Planning and Design guide)

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B. Equipment associated with this project which will be provided from other appropriations: NONE.

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Submitted to Congress

Page No. 150

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The Dir. Land Use & Military Construction Branch, Installations & Logistics Dept., HQ, Marine Corps certifies that this project has been considered for joint use potential. Unilateral construction is recommended. The reason for this recommendation is:

This facility can be used by other components on an as available basis; however, the scope of the project is based on Marine Corps requirements.

Activity POC: CHIP NEWTON

Phone No: 904-696-5063

Form

DD 1 Dec 76 1391C

Submitted to Congress

Page No. 151

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To provide strategic missiles and strategic weapons systems support to the fleet and other designated activities, and to perform such other functions and tasks as may be directed by higher authority. In addition to personnel assigned to Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic, a 364-man USMC security force is also assigned.

Form
DD 1 Dec 76 1390

Submitted to Congress

(Continued On DD 1390C)

Page No. 153

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