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GALENA FORWARD OPERATING LOCATION (FOL), AK

RECOMMENDATION # 195 (ADD)

ONE-TIME COST: $11.5M

ANNUAL RECURRING COSTS/(SAVINGS): ($12.3M)

20-YEAR NET PRESENT VALUE: ($165.5M)

PAYBACK PERIOD: 1 YEAR

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE RECOMMENDATION

None. The Secretary’s proposed list submitted on May 13, 2005 did not include this facility. It was added by the Commission on July 19, 2005 for further consideration.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JUSTIFICATION

None.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS

The community argued that Galena is still needed as a forward operating location (FOL) because its location offers significant operational advantages over Eielson and Elmendorf AFBs. They also cited Galena’s value as an alternate landing site for aircraft based at other locations as no other suitable landing sites are within a reasonable distance.

Galena is an extremely small community, and it estimated it would lose about a third of its total jobs, as well as utilities the Air Force provides to its schools located on the airport. If the Commission’s added recommendation is approved, the community seeks a gradual or phased transition process to mitigate the negative economic impact.

COMMISSION FINDINGS

The rationale for maintaining two forward operating locations in Alaska was derived during the Cold War. However, the Commission found the security environment has changed and the requirement for maintaining these forward operation locations is not essential. The mission currently conducted at Galena could be conducted at Eielson AFB with little operational impact and acceptable risk. Another forward operating location in King Salmon, AK would continue to be

maintained. Galena has also served as an alternate landing site for aircraft based at other locations who encounter mechanical or weather related problems. However, the Commission found that closing Galena would not present significant risk, as other measures could be taken depending on the specific circumstances.

The Commission also found that other Federal Agencies operate on the Galena airport, closing the Air Force forward operating location would likely increase their costs of operation. The Commission found that these costs would be modest, and that other means might be available to help them offset those costs.

The Commission shares the concerns expressed by the community about the economic impact on the community. The Commission recommends that the Air Force not close Galena Forward Operating Location until the community has adequate time for planning and redevelopment efforts. This will help ensure that the services provided by federal and state agencies are not interrupted before these agencies have an opportunity to plan for the greater operating costs. Further, the Commission requests the Air Force to work with the state and local government to support continued winter maintenance activities at the Galena Airport runway, so that the site may serve as a viable alternative emergency airport until it closes the Galena FOL; and to expeditiously address environmental cleanup at the site.

Finally, the Commission requests the Air Force to work with the local and state government to maintain the infrastructure so as to provide for an orderly transition from a military operation to a civilian operation at the Galena Airport.

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS

The Commission found that the Secretary of Defense deviated substantially from final selection criteria 1 and 4, as well as from the Force Structure Plan. Therefore, the Commission recommends the following: Close Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska.

The Commission found that this change and the recommendation as amended are consistent with the final selection criteria and the Force Structure Plan. The full text of this and all Commission recommendations can be found in Appendix Q.