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BRAC is an acronym which stands for base realignment and closure. It is the process DoD uses to reorganize its installation infrastructure to more efficiently and effectively support its forces, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business. DoD anticipates that BRAC 2005 will build upon processes used in previous BRAC efforts.
In Northern Virginia, and particularly in the Mount Vernon District, BRAC means more people working on Fort Belvoir, more customers for our businesses, and more traffic on our roads.
When the BRAC recommendation was first announced, Fairfax County made its concerns and suggestions known to the Army. Fairfax County advocated for the several BRAC related agencies to be spread out among different locations to offset the transportation impacts. After the Army decided to concentrate 18,000 of the 22,000 DoD employees, as well as the National Museum of the United States Army, which will attract at least 1.5 million visitors a year, to the Engineer Proving Grounds, it became apparent that our concerns and suggestions were ignored. Here is the Army news release announcing that its master planning contractor recommended a ‘preferred site-plan’ for the realignment of Fort Belvoir to the EPG site.
We are now faced with the challenge of convincing the United States Army that their plan is not the better one. On Thursday, August 31, 2006 I presented testimony before the United States Congress on this very important issue. Supervisor Dana Kauffman, my colleague on the Board of Supervisors who represents Lee District, also presented testimony.
As part of my response to the BRAC proposal, I created a "punch list" of items critical to supporting a large number of people and facilities on the EPG site. This list seems enough to prove the site is not viable, and I sincerely hope it will be reviewed thoroughly by the Army BRAC team.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has long been the lead proponent for bringing the Army Museum to our area and we have demonstrated our support with substantial cash contributions to ensure the museum’s completion. However, our support for the museum came with the clear understanding that it would be located at Pence Gate, off Richmond Highway, as a mutually beneficial lever for revitalization and tourism income. The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation has weighed in with their thoughts on the museum in a letter to the Secretary of the Army on July 21, 2006.
Environmental Impact Study for the EPG