BRAC preparedness is essential for California to ensure that our economy and the jobs that support our military services and installations are not adversely affected.  The space industry, in particular, is most susceptible to base closures and realignments.  The continued erosion of space enterprise in California means the often-permanent loss of our technological, intellectual and space infrastructure advantage.  Without a strong BRAC preparedness plan, California will become less competitive in exploiting emerging space opportunities.

Seven Key Space Installations

• Los Angeles Air Force Base (Space and Missiles Systems Center) – LA County -procures Air Force’s space systems
• Vandenberg Air Force Base – Santa Barbara County - nation’s premier polar launch site
• Edwards Air Force Base – Kern/LA and San Bernardino Counties - tests space and aviation systems
• Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) – San Diego County - procures Navy’s space systems
• Beale Air Force Base – Yuba County – intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance utilizing space assets
• Point Mugu/Port Hueneme – Ventura County - Navy satellite operations
• China Lake Naval Station – Kern/Inyo Counties – Navy satellite operations

Recommendations:

• Support Assembly Bill 208 (Gordon)
  Would allow for students of military personnel to be given priority in transfers from one school district to another.
• Support Assembly Bill 623 (Gordon)
  Authorizes local authorities in Los Angeles County to expand their tax-increment moneys outside of their territorial jurisdiction to implement the Los Angeles Air Force Base Retention Program.
• Support Assembly Joint Resolution 12 (Gordon)
  Memorializes the President and Congress to recognize that California’s military installations possess critical military value in a manner consistent with the 2005 BRAC Closure and Realignment Selection Criteria.
• Support Senate Bill 976 (Ashburn)
  Allows a military installation to replace a permitted stationary source without having to meet the requirements of the Protect California Air Act of 2003 if the actual emissions of the replacement source are at least 10 and lower than the existing permitted source.  This will allow the replacement of old, inefficient equipment with new, less polluting and cost-effective equipment.
• Support Senate Bill 977 (Ashburn)
  Exempts the definition of "perchlorate" for state contamination prevention purposes from including perchlorate located in unused military munitions.  Recognizes the national security implications to reporting the location of live/active munitions on military installations.
• Support Senate Bill 978 (Ashburn)
  Would exempt the military from having to install sub-meters on military installations or for housing projects included in military housing privatization initiative programs.  The military has already demonstrated a strong water conservation program which has successfully reduced its water use.  Requiring sub-meters will create tens of millions of dollars in costs and threaten bases during a time of potential closures.

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