Commander EPPERSON. At Naval Air Station, Denver, the personnel on board Mr. BROOKS. 2,646? Commander EPPERSON. Yes, sir, 2,646. Mr. DUCANDER. That is permanent party personnel, is that right? Commander EPPERSON. That is the Reserves on board. That is the weekend people who come along. The permanent party are 716. Mr. BROOKS. That is an important facility. Are there any questions? Mrs. ST. GEORGE. I have no questions. I would like to go back to these standby generators. Do you only use those in case of emergency? Is that all they are for? You ordinarily use the regular powerplant? Captain ETTER. Yes. They are exercised occasionally and this, of course, will supply only a small part of the total station demand. It merely takes care of the essential operating elements in case of a failure of outside power source. Mr. BROOKS. And you have these in several instances? Captain ETTER. Yes, sir. In the case of a critical operating situation where we may endanger the planes by loss of communications and lighting, we either provide a second high line source or a standby source. In these cases the standby source is by far the most economical approach to the problem. Mr. BROOKS. Are there further questions? If not, we will tentatively approve Denver. Admiral TAYLOR. Glenview, Ill. Optical landing system and another standby generating plant. Mr. BROOKS. That is a 200 kilowatt plant? Captain ETTER. Yes, sir. Mr. BROOKS. That is $179,000. standby, and what is the other? You say it is a 200 kilowatt plant, Mr. DUCANDER. Optical landings system. Mr. BROOKS. Is that on Government land? Commander EPPERSON. Yes, sir, that is on Government owned land. Mr. BROOKS. How many acres do you have there? Captain ETTER. 1,052 owned and 19 leased. Mr. BROOKS. Are there any questions? We will tentatively approve that. The next is Grosse Ile, Mich., Naval Air Station, 147,000; airfield lights. Is that the same as Glenview? Commander EPPERSON. This provides runway and taxiway lighting to meet current operational and safety standards at minimum criteria. At the present time the station is having to use the runway lights in order to taxi by. If you had one plane to land, they have to turn on the runway lights for him to taxi by. Mr. BROOKS. This is not economical; is it? Commander EPPERSON. It is not economical and it is not safe because another plane landing, especially during periods of restricted visibility, might possibly try to land on the same runway that the plan is taxiing on. This provides blue taxi lights on all runways which, of course, cannot be confused with runway lights. Mr. BROOKS. If there is no objection to that, we will tentatively approve it. Then the Naval Air Station at Los Alamitos. That is an airfield lighting and land acquisition, $1,192,000. You have an investment there of $11 million roughly. Is that it? Captain ETTER. Yes, sir. Mr. BROOKS. You have a total estimated program of $24 million at that base? Captain ETTER. Yes, sir. Mr. BROOKS. What have you to say with regard to your request for roughly $2 million? Commander EPPERSON. The first line item we have at NAS Los Alamitos covering fee title for 44.4 acres of land adjoining the northeast boundary of the station and 80 acres joining the southwest station boundary; the flight clearance easement will be taken off 89.26 acres of land at the southwest corner, permitting removal of a group of trees which constitutes an obstruction in the glide approach to the runway. This item is to protect the approaches to the runway, in the end zone and to get an easement over land to remove a grove of eucalyptus trees. Mr. BROOKS. That is air easement? Commander EPPERSON. Yes. These eucalyptus trees are 110 feet high and extend 60 feet up into the glide angle and during periods of bad weather, low visibility, it is possible for a plane to go into those trees. You do have some aerial charts that show that very well, if you would like to see them. Mr. BROOKS. If you obtain this and get the easement, what are you going to do, reduce the height of those trees? Commander EPPERSON. Yes, sir; we will top those trees so they will not extend into the glide angle. We will cut them down. Mr. BROOKS. Is the base site Government owned? Commander EPPERSON. Yes, sir. Mr. DUCANDER. How much per acre are you paying for the fee title that you are acquiring? Commander EPPERSON. I would like to call on Mr. Tiencken to answer that. acre. Mr. TIENCKEN. It has been appraised at approximately $5,700 per It is high grade subdivision and industrial property. The city is just growing into the air station and therefore the lands are very expensive. Mr. BROOKS. How much did you say per acre? Mr. TIENCKEN. $5,700. Mr. BROOKS. And you need 124 acres? Mr. TIENCKEN. Yes, sir. Mr. BROOKS. That will make a total of what amount for 124 acres? Mr. TIENCKEN. Approximately $715,000. Mr. BROOKS. I think we should see the charts on that. Do you think you have time this morning to explain it? Commander EPPERSON. Yes, sir. We have them right here. I would like to ask Commander Jacobs to show you the charts. (The charts were shown to the subcommittee.) Mr. BROOKS. I think we better put that in the record. We will ask most of these questions over so that the reporter can get them. However, we have about exhausted our time. We can meet this afternoon, unless there is objection, say, at 2:30. We will met this afternoon and I think we can wind up on this at that time. If there is no objection then, since our time is about up, we will stand adjourned until 2:30 this afternoon. We will ask the Navy to be back and the Air Force following the Navy. (Whereupon, at 10 a. m., the subcommittee recessed, to reconvene at 2:30 p. m., the same day.) AFTERNOON SESSION Mr. BROOKS. The subcommittee will please come to order. At the time we recessed, we were at page 4, line 7, Naval Air Station, Los Alamitos, Calif. The question we were discussing then was that of acquisition of land. At that time we were checking over charts. I think since the reporter failed to get most of the answers that we elicited from our questions, it would be wise to cover that in detail at this time. Now, let me ask you, sir, this provides $1,992,000, a part of which is for land acquisition. How many acres, now, do we intend to acquire? Mr. TIENCKEN. Approximately 125 acres in fee and approximately 90 acres in easement. Mr. BROOKS. That land will run you for the fee how much? Mr. TIENCKEN. We have 2 private appraisals which give a figure of approximately $5,700 per acre. Mr. BROOKS. Those were independent appraisals of reputable business interests engaged in appraisals? Mr. TIENCKEN. Yes, sir, in the Los Angeles, Calif., area. Mr. BROOKS. That is a rather high figure. How do you justify $5,700 an acre? Mr. TIENCKEN. This property it suitable for subdivision and light industrial development. The enchroachments of the town moving eastward towards the station is closing in on it so that the land value is very much more than the agricultural character. Mr. BROOKS. It is being built up all around the base then? Mr. TIENCKEN. Yes, sir. Mr. BROOKS. On one side of the base you have an ammunition depot? Mr. TIENCKEN. To the south of the base, yes, sir. Mr. BROOKS. That is not being built up in that area, is it? Mr. TIENCKEN. The small strip between the air station and the ammunition depot is not at the present time being built up. Mr. BROOKS. But the rest of the area surrounding the base is being built? Mr. TIENCKEN. To the north and west, yes, sir. Mr. BROOKS. What are you going to pay for the easements? Mr. TIENCKEN. That is estimated at something over $900 per acre. Mr. BROOKS. Now, why is the cost of easement so high? Mr. TIENCKEN. Likewise, Mr. Chairman, this is in the area which is suitable for subdivision and the appraisers consider that the prop erty will be damaged to that extent in that it will not be as attractive for development purposes. Mr. BROOKS. In other words, the lost value is nearly $1,000 an acre because a part of it will not be able to be used for subdividing at all. Mr. TIENCKEN. They cannot build up to the proper heights and so forth. Restrictions on the heights. Mr. BROOKS. What size runway do you have there? Mr. TIENCKEN. Eight thousand feet on the principal runway, sir. Mr. BROOKS. How wide? Commander EPPERSON. 200 feet. Mr. BROOKS. Is that for jet flying or all types? Commander EPPERSON. All types, Mr. Chairman, including jets. Mr. BROOKS. Do you have any other land acquisition, save the fee and the easements? Mr. TIENCKEN. None proposed at this location, Mr. Chairman. Mr. BROOKS. All right. Thank you very much. Now, that covers Los Alamitos. The main feature there is the value of that land. I think we have gone into it pretty thoroughly and unless there is some objection Mr. BRAY. I have no objection, but I would like to ask a question for the record here. What is the nature of the easements? You are not forbidding buildings on the ground, are you? Mr. TIENCKEN. We are limiting the height. The easements will start the minimum height will be approximately 40 feet. Mr. BRAY. It is residential development? Mr. TIENCKEN. It is residential development. Mr. BRAY. It seems to me like $1,000 an acre, to limit the height of buildings in a residential area to 40 feet up should not be worth any thousand dollars an acre. Take into consideration the bother and the noise. That must not be considered. The only damages they could have would be because of the restriction in height, and not because of the general nuisance that you are making because of noise. Mr. TIENCKEN. Mr. Bray, we are quite aware of that and it has come up many times in the subcommittee. Mr. BRAY. It seems to me like $1,000 would be a lot to give for an easement. Mr. TIENCKEN. There has been a recent decision in the Court of Claims back last month that will probably change our thinking a little bit and it has been under consideration in the whole Department of Defense. Mr. BRAY. Do you mean a case has been in the Court of Claims giving the general noise as a part of the damage? Mr. TIENCKEN. Yes, sir. Mr. BRAY. But it would not cover the people in the next block from the easement. Mr. TIENCKEN. The court gave the Government a flight clearance easement as part of the transaction in this decision and granted damages. Mr. BRAY. Did this come up under an action by the Government? Mr. TIENCKEN. Yes. Mr. BRAY. You would be subject to this same amount of damage from everybody in that community if that is finally determined to be the law and the Supreme Court sticks with it. Mr. TIENCKEN. That is right. Mr. BROOKS. If you got an easement from a man there would be no damage. Mr. TIENCKEN. Once the easement is purchased, he has relinquished his rights, yes, sir. Mr. BROOKS. There being no objection, the item is approved. The next one is Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Alvin Callender, La. "Administration facilities, communications facilities, navigational aids, operational facilities, maintenance facilities and land acquisition, $2,453,000." Tell us about that item. Commander EPPERSON. Mr. Brooks, I will take up each item separately. Mr. BROOKS. If you will. Begin with administrative facilities. Commander EPPERSON. The administration building, this item will provide spaces for the executive offices, administration, personnel administration, communications, legal and security and related functions required by the station mission and the marines will also occupy this structure. Mr. DUCANDER. How much for this item? Commander EPPERSON. $368,000. Mr. BROOKS. What is the next item? Community facilities? Admiral TAYLOR. We seem to have our papers in a different order than yours. Mr. BROOKS. I am reading from the bill. I have both of your figures here. Commander EPPERSON. We have them here, but they are in a little different order. Mr. BROOKS. If you would rather take them up in the way you have them in the bill-tactical air navigation facilities. Commander EPPERSON. Yes, sir. Mr. BROOKS. Proceed. Commander EPPERSON. TACAN is an abbreviation for Tactical Air Navigation. Proposed facility is part of a nationwide system for the improvement of air navigation and this specific installation is one part of the Naval Air Reserve portion thereof. The request is for the construction of an access road, hard stand and electric power and building to house electronics equipment which is being provided separately. Mr. BROOKS. What is the next one? Optical landing system? Mr. BROOKS. No explanation on that. What about squadron operations billet? Commander ÉPPERSON. The station is an active duty for training facility for two Reserve squadrons which would be continually cruising from other stations. The item will provide pilot briefing, squadron operations, and administrative spaces required for efficient unit training. Mr. BROOKS. And next, the fuel wharf and land acquisition. Commander EPPERSON. This item will permit receipt of aviation fuel by barge at an estimated annual saving to the Navy alone of $452,000 |