Concord Reuse Project
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is the Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS) closed?
- How big is the Concord Naval Weapons Station?
- Are munitions still stored in the bunkers located in the Inland Area?
- Who will decide what happens to the land?
- What is the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA)?
- How will the Reuse Plan be prepared?
- What is the status of the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination at the Inland Area of CNWS?
- Who is responsible for the environmental cleanup?
- How can the community be kept informed and participate in the environmental cleanup process?
- How will the environmental cleanup and the preparation of a base reuse plan be coordinated?
- How will the Navy ensure that the land is adequately cleaned up before or after it is transferred?
Is the Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS) closed?
The base is divided into two areas -- the Inland Area and the Tidal Area. The Inland Area of the base is now officially approved for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Authority. The Tidal Area will remain in operation. The property has been transferred from Navy ownership to Army ownership.
The Inland Area is located in the northeast section of the City of Concord . It contains bunkers that were used to store munitions and a rail system to move the munitions to and from the bunkers. The Navy mothballed the Inland Area in 1999. This is the area that was included on the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list and the Navy will retain ownership of the property until the Concord Community Reuse Plan is completed.
The Tidal Area fronts on Suisun Bay . It contains a port and industrial buildings used by the Army. The Tidal Area was not under consideration for closure.
How big is the Concord Naval Weapons Station?
The CNWS covers approximately 12,800 acres or approximately 20 square miles. An acre is about the size of a football field.
The Inland Area is approximately 5,170 acres or approximately 8 square miles.
The Tidal Area is approximately 7,630 acres or approximately 12 square miles.
Are munitions still stored in the bunkers located in the Inland Area?
No, the munitions have been removed.
Who will decide what happens to the land?
The U.S. Navy currently owns the land, but the City Council, serving as the Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA), will work with residents and interested parties to prepare a Community Reuse Plan. Based on the Reuse Plan, the City of Concord will zone the property prior to reuse. Zoning will establish the type of uses that will be allowed on the property.
What is the Local Reuse Authority (LRA)?
The Local Reuse Authority (LRA) is the one point of contact for negotiating with the Department of Defense and the single community point of contact for all matters relating to closure of the Naval Weapons Station. The Concord City Council has been designated as the LRA. The LRA also is the entity responsible for preparing the Community Reuse Plan, which establishes the vision for base reuse by determining:
• community goals that will guide the planning process,
• economically and environmentally feasible land uses,
• community facilities that will be provided through base reuse and,
• the manner in which homeless needs will be balanced with community reuse objectives.
How will the Reuse Plan be prepared?
The Reuse Plan is the primary planning document that will establish the community's vision for the conversion of the base from military to civilian use. The Reuse Plan will be prepared by the City Council, serving as the LRA.
The Concord City Council and City staff are committed to a collaborative and inclusive community-wide outreach and planning process. The City has been holding a series of community workshops in its role as the designated LRA. In the fall of 2006, a 21 member Community Advisory Committee was appointed by the LRA to assist in soliciting community perspectives and to advise the LRA on the development of a reuse plan. Residents will have the opportunity to comment on the plan at multiple public meetings, workshops and forums as well as through letters, surveys and e-mails.
What is the status of the investigation and cleanup of environmental contamination at the Inland Area of CNWS?
A comprehensive program is currently underway to systematically investigate, clean up, and monitor environmental contamination that may have resulted from past operations at the base. This program began in 1983, and is being carried out by the Navy through its Installation Restoration Program (IRP) and Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP).
The Navy issued a report known as the “Environmental Conditions of Property” report. This report summarizes the historical, cultural, and environmental conditions of the property and contains a summary of the current status of the IRP and MMRP programs. The report indicates that known or suspected areas of environmental contamination are present on less than 1,000 acres of the 5,170 acre site. These areas consist of approximately 60 specific locations where past releases of hazardous substances to soil and groundwater are either suspected or are known to have occurred. These locations are currently in various stages of study, cleanup and monitoring.
A local information repository has been established by the Navy to facilitate community access to reports prepared to date on environmental conditions and cleanup activities at the Concord Naval Weapons Station. The information repository is located at the Concord Public Library, located at 2900 Salvio Street in Concord, CA. The entire Administrative Record File for the Concord Naval Weapons Station is maintained at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, 1220 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92132.
Who is responsible for the environmental cleanup?
The Navy is responsible for investigating and cleaning up the site pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA, 1986), the National Contingency Plan (NCP), and other federal and state laws and regulations.
The cleanup process is overseen by several federal and state environmental regulatory agencies. To facilitate this oversight, investigation and cleanup activities are discussed at monthly Remedial Project Managers meetings comprised of representatives from the Navy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board), and other federal and state agencies.
How can the community be kept informed and participate in the environmental cleanup process?
A community-based Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was established in 1995 to review progress, provide input, and participate in the decision-making process concerning the investigation and cleanup work at the Concord Naval Weapons Station. The RAB is made up of community members, base representatives, regulators and other stakeholders who reflect the diverse interests of those living and working near the base. The group meets monthly to review technical documents and discuss cleanup activities. The meetings are open to the public.
How will the environmental cleanup and the preparation of a base reuse plan be coordinated?
The environmental cleanup being performed by the Navy, and the base reuse plan being developed by the City of Concord as the LRA, will be closely coordinated and integrated. The cleanup levels established for the site will need to consider and reflect the planned future land uses established by the base reuse plan as well as other factors. This approach will ensure that the cleanup of the site will be protective of public health and safety and support the reuse plan. The public will have an opportunity to review and comment on environmental cleanup actions and the base reuse planning process through an extensive community outreach program currently underway.
How will the Navy ensure that the land is adequately cleaned up before or after it is transferred?
The Navy is required to ensure that the base is investigated and cleaned up to a level that is protective of public health and the environment. Areas of the base cannot be transferred or sold for reuse until after the investigation and clean up of these areas is completed, unless the Navy and the City elect to use a process known as the Early Transfer Authority (ETA).
Early Transfer Authority is designed to assist communities in expediting the reuse of a former base while ensuring that the cleanup is completed. Under ETA, property may be transferred prior to the completion of cleanup, provided the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the state Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) are satisfied that safeguards are in place to protect human health and the environment. The Navy remains liable after transfer to complete or fund the completion of the required cleanup in a manner that is protective of human heath and the environment. The cleanup must still meet all EPA, DTSC and RWQCB requirements.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the City of Concord’s reuse planning process, please contact:
Michael Wright, Reuse Project Director
City of Concord
1950 Parkside Drive, MS/
Concord, CA 94519
Phone: (925) 671-3019
Or via e-mail to: michael.wright@ci.concord.ca.us
If you have any questions about the Navy’s environmental cleanup process, please contact:
Darren Newton, BRAC Environmental Coordinator
Navy BRAC Program Management Office West
1455 Frazee Road, Suite 900
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone (619) 532-0963, Fax (619) 532-0780
Or via e-mail to: darren.newton@navy.mil
