National Patterns and Community Impacts of Major Domestic U.S. Military Base Closures, 1988-present

This thesis analyses major U.S. military bases closed by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission since 1988. The study focuses on geographic patterns of pre-existing versus BRAC bases, statistical attributes, environmental restoration, and reuse of bases. Comparative case studies supplement the analysis, highlighting rural versus urban location, success versus failure, politics, conflict, and local versus national goals. Thesis findings are that: 92 bases closed versus 97 commonly published; a fairly even national closure pattern occurred, indicating Commission efforts to achieve equity, except for three closure clusters indicating efforts to consolidate functions in some regions and leave others; base reuse, while commonly perceived negatively, has been positive in most cases; the BRAC process is becoming more efficient, such that allowed years between BRAC closure decisions and base closures should be reduced from six to three years to benefit both communities and the Defense Department.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2004

Author dc:creator

• Webster, Sean T.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lyons, Donald I.
• Weinstein, Bernard L.
• Schoolmaster, Andrew

• Military bases -- United States.
• Military base closures -- United States.
• Military base conversion -- Environmental aspects -- United States.
• United States. Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission.
• BRAC
• military base closure
• military base reuse
• defense conversion
• environmental restoration
• military installations

Statement dc:rights

• Public
• Copyright
• Webster, Sean T.
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 56698704
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4560/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc4560

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc4560