MIL-HDBK-1130
WHOLE BASE CLOSURE OR INACTIVATION
Section 4:
Introduction. Base closure as used in this section and throughout
4.1
this handbook means deactivating a Navy shore base and removing the land and
facilities from the Navy's plant account. Base closure is not the same as
base inactivation. The term "closure" is used when the Navy permanently gives
up its property; inactivation is used when the property is retained by the
Navy but kept in an inactive or "moth-balled" status.
Impact of Closure. Any time an entire naval installation is
4.2
closed, all employees are transferred or released, and all facilities are
transferred or demolished, there is a major impact on all involved. NEPA
documentation is required to assess the impact of a base closure. Particular
areas of study will include land use, area employment, environmental hazards
and any other concerns. They will then publically disclose the findings of
the study. If adverse effects are found, mitigating measures could be
required during closure. Consult with the NAVFAC Environmental Branch for the
necessary expertise.
4.3
Demolition. When an entire base is closed, there is normally very
little demolition performed. Facilities on the base are assets that have
value to the prospective new owner. However, where facilities are demolished,
coordination becomes critical. A facility must be vacated, and salvageable
equipment must be removed before it is demolished. Hazardous materials
require removal in compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(see para. 1.4). Additionally, demolition contracts must be developed,
awarded, and executed. This requires considerable effort at a time when
public works resources are scarce. The process must be accomplished in an
expeditious manner so that it can be complete prior to turnover of the land to
GSA or some other new owner. Further, demolition should be completed as soon
as possible to avoid potential safety and security problems.
4.4
Inactivation. If the whole base is to be inactivated, all
facilities structures, utility systems, and grounds will require some
preparation. Guidance on how to accomplish this effort is contained in
Section 2. The steps required to inactivate and "moth ball" facilities are
not individually complex, but when every facility must be inactivated at the
same time the work force is being phased out, careful planning and detailed
record keeping are essential. The decision to inactivate vice close a base
presumes some future need. If facilities and systems are not adequately
protected in the process of inactivating, they will require significantly more
effort and expenditure of resources to reactivate.
4.5
Closure. Whole base closure also requires careful planning and
detailed record-keeping. Since the base is no longer required by the Navy and
will be transferred to a new owner, expenditure of Navy resources to preserve
it should be kept to a minimum. However, the process usually takes a
relatively long time to accomplish, and in the interim, the Navy has a
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