As shown in figure 1, local reuse authorities generally seek surplus property under one of the public benefit transfer authorities first because these can be no-cost acquisitions, then through economic development conveyances because these can be no-cost or no-initial cost acquisitions, and lastly through negotiated sale because they can negotiate the terms and do not have to compete with other interested parties. At the beginning of the base closure process, DOD expected that land sales would help pay for the costs of closing bases. 2.) Land sales for all BRAC closures totaled $179.2 million as of March 1996. Developing reuse plans and developing and implementing service disposal plans can be a lengthy process. The low percentage of land sold to the public is a result of the disposal process, which allows communities to plan the reuse of most base property. Base Reuse Shifts From the Federal Sector to Communities

Current plans call for the federal government to retain about 16 percent of the land at the 23 closing military bases to satisfy agency requirements or to comply with decisions made by the BRAC Commission or by legislation. Communities have still not determined the reuse of 15 percent of the land. Although the method of conveyance and disposition for about 15 percent of base property remains undetermined, communities are planning to request 32.5 percent under various public benefit conveyances. This compares with 4 percent during the previous two rounds. On closing bases, communities are planning industrial and office complexes, parks and other recreational facilities, residential housing, and correctional facilities. Lease revenues are expected to be used to protect and maintain these properties. To support dislocated workers and help communities plan and implement their redevelopment objectives, the federal government is providing assistance through numerous programs. To determine the amount and type of federal assistance provided to the BRAC 1988, 1991, and 1993 base closure communities, we obtained federal assistance information from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Economic Development Administration, the Department of Labor, and the Office of Economic Adjustment. GAO Comments

1. 2. 3. 8, 1996). A recorded menu will provide information on how to obtain these lists.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Department of Defense's (DOD) base realignment and closure (BRAC) process, focusing on: (1) the status and extent of land sales at closing bases; (2) whether private parties are excluded from purchasing surplus property; and (3) the amount of federal assistance provided to communities to promote economic conversion of closing bases.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) as of March 1996, land sales for the first three BRAC rounds totalled $179.2 million; (2) private parties rarely bid on the purchase of base properties because communities often request these properties under public benefit transfers, economic development conveyances, and noncompetitive negotiated sale authorities; (3) the federal government plans to retain approximately 16 percent of the land from the 23 bases reviewed; (4) although most of the land from these bases will be requested by local reuse authorities, reuse of 15 percent of the land remains undetermined; (5) communities plan to use the land for industrial and office complexes, parks and recreational facilities, residential housing, and correctional facilities; (6) although some bases have been able to generate jobs and revenue by leasing base properties during the conversion process, development and implementation of reuse and disposal plans can be a lengthy process; (7) readily marketable properties require resources for their protection and upkeep; (8) during past BRAC closure rounds, the federal government has provided over $780 million in planning assistance, training, and infrastructure grants to help communities implement their redevelopment objectives; and (9) 21 percent of the 88,433 DOD civilian jobs that were lost as a result of the first three BRAC closure rounds have been replaced.