On June 19, 1973, a Small Business Workshop was held at the NTC to explain SBA financing assistance for reuse planning and overall county business assistance. The County has formed a Bainbridge Naval Training Center Advisory Committee to strengthen existing development efforts and to reevaluate Cecil County's development goals and policies, focusing on the total role of developing the Bainbridge NTC. Initial EAC assistance will be geared to strengthening the planning capabilities and data resources of the County as a basis for assessing problems and potentials for development of the NTC. Further assistance will be set within an overall development strategy based on the findings of the full EAC visit, agency follow-up visits and subsequent research. Disposition of DoD Property In December, 1972, pursuant to Section 2662, Title 10, United States Code, the Navy submitted a disposal report to the Armed Services Committees of the Congress which provided for the excessing of 1108.6 acres (41.4 acres were previously excessed). GSA is currently soliciting all Federal agencies for possible interest in the property. TheState of Maryland Power Plant Siting Program has indicated interest in a portion of the site, as has the University of Maryland. Assessment The total effect of the base closure is not severe since it will occur gradually and there is sufficient time to initiate new economic development to offset the impending loss of civilian jobs and the NTC military personnel expenditures. Off-base housing is scattered, mainly across the river in Harford County, which is adjacent to Baltimore's expanding housing market area. All indications show a growth pattern in the local economy which can absorb the impact of the closure. The major problem facing the County is the continuing one of providing jobs for all of the County's working population, particularly the low and moderate income sectors. The availability of 1150 acres at Bainbridge provides a unique opportunity for the County to exploit its potentials for job and revenue 80 producing uses, suitable to the character of the County and its aspirations. This challenge requires a unified public/private effort and the cooperation of Federal, State and local governments to implement. Current Status This report, Completion of the full EAC report is scheduled soon. to be provided to the Congressional delegation and area leaders, will provide specific recommendations on ways to reutilize the Bainbridge site to the economic advantage of Cecil County. Follow-up response by the area will determine the scope of future EAC involvement. Location Otis Air Force Base is located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, at the base of the Cape Cod peninsula. Portions of the installation lie within the townships of Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich and Mashpee. DoD Impact The transition of Otis Air Force Base from an active Air Force installation to an Air National Guard base, begun in 1972, will be completed by December 31, 1973. Federal activities, other than active Air Force units, remain on the base. Active military personnel strength, including the U. S. Coast Guard, will decrease from 2, 142 to 568; civilian employees will increase to plus 900, and National Guard and Reserve military strength will increase from 2,595 to 3,890. Although there will be an appreciable decrease in the number of active military personnel assigned to the base, the number of National Guard personnel assigned in all categories will appreciably increase, producing a beneficial impact on the local economy. The Bourne School System is adversely affected by the loss of student military dependents and the attendant loss of Federal assistance for which they were eligible. The majority of the land comprising the base is owned by and leased from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. U.S. -funded improvements on the leased land are owned by the Federal Government. A substantial amount of leased land with Federal improvements will be excessed, including approximately 50% of the 1, 193-unit family housing area. EAC Involvement The staff of the Economic Adjustment Committee has been working with local community leaders since May 1972. An EAC team visit was made on October 18-19, 1972, resulting in a report which describes the nature and extent of the defense-related impact on the communities and proposes a course of action for consideration by community and State officials. The EAC staff is in working contact with the State Conversion Commission which is now in operation. The emphasis of the program is the formation of a viable local leadership group representative of all the communities and interests involved and which will provide a focal point of contact with the EAC staff and the State Conversion Committee. The salient recommendations of the community visit report aim toward an exchange of property interests between the Air Force, State and local communities--which will result in community ownership of excess land improvements; interim civil use of excess family housing; a determination of the acceptable kinds and types of business and industry which might use excess buildings; and a definitive description of the excess parts of the base. Congressional action may be required. Disposition of DoD Property A report to the Congressional Armed Services Committees pursuant to Section 2662, Title 10, U. S. Code, on the proposed partial disposal of Otis Air National Guard Base has been deferred on request of the State and members of its Congressional Delegation; this report is expected to be submitted to the Committees on July 27, 1973. Assuming no objections by the Congress, the excess property will be reported to the General Services Administration for disposal in accordance with the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended. Assessment The strong conservative, and often divergent, local opinions on possible civil uses of parts of the Otis Air National Guard Base and their effects on the total environment of Cape Cod, in addition to State control through ownership of the land, makes for a complex situation. With the active. participation and support of all the diverse parties involved, it is believed that acceptable use programs which will enhance the environment and the Cape Cod economic base will be agreed upon and put into effect in the near future. Current Status A task force representing local interests has been formed and is operating; it has requested and is receiving proposals for uses of the to-be excessed property. The State Conversion Commission has appointed a Cape Cod sub-committee which has established working contact with the local task force, and the EAC staff is maintaining close contact with both groups. Community Location The realignment announcements for the Boston Naval Complex all centered around Boston Harbor in the midst of a major metropolitan area of 2,754, 000 persons. The City of Boston itself reflected a population of 641,000 persons in the 1970 Census. Together with the nearby Chelsea Naval Hospital, these Boston facilities comprise approximately 472 acres of prime industrial, residential, and public use land with immediate access to Boston Harbor. Personnel reductions are being effected at Hanscom Field near Bedford due to the transfer of Reserve flight activities to Westover, and a nominal increase will occur at South Weymouth; both facilities are within the Boston metropolitan area. Defense Impact The announced closure at the Boston Naval Shipyard, the Naval Support Activity, the First Naval District, the Marine Corps Barracks, and the Chelsea Hospital--together with personnel reductions at Hanscom Field and a small increase in Naval Air activities at South Weymouth, will result in an overall net loss of 1, 179 military positions, 6,621 civilian positions between the year-end FY 1972 (June 1972) strength and December 1974. The emphasis on the loss of personnel positions in the April 17, 1973 announcement necessarily overlooks the important feature that 677 civilian positions were already unfilled or uncommitted as of April 1973. Therefore, the real impact on the civilian work force in the Boston area amounts to 5, 944 civilians. The overall impact and the net civilian impact to the Boston area are summarized as follows: |