Many of you have questions about the base closure process. What follows is a list of questions and answers that will help you better understand the process.
  1. What is BRAC?
    BRAC is an acronym that stands for Base Realignment and Closure. It is the process the Department of Defense (DoD) uses to reorganize its base structure to more efficiently and effectively support our forces, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business.
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  2. What is FMERPA?
    FMERPA stands for Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority. FMERPA is a group of elected officials and citizens designated by the State of New Jersey and recognized by the Secretary of Defense that will develop a reuse plan for Fort Monmouth when it closes in 2011.

    In the fall of 2005, Fort Monmouth was officially designated as one of the bases that would be closed and moved to another location. As operations at Fort Monmouth are transferred to Aberdeen, Maryland the Base will be redeveloped for government, public or private use to be determined by FMERPA in conjunction with the community. FMERPA will have a Master Reuse Plan submitted to the Army and to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for approval by September 2008.
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  3. Who makes up the Authority?
    FMERPA has a 10-member board that is dedicated to creating a beneficial and viable reuse plan for the base. You can find additional information about the Authority Members in About FMERPA.
    • 4 members are to be appointed by the Governor
      • 1 of the 4 should a high-tech background
      • 1 of the 4 should have development / real estate experience
      • 2 must be appointed from each political party
      • 2 must be Monmouth County residents

    • 3 members – Mayors of Eatontown, Tinton Falls, Oceanport
    • 1 member – Secretary of Commerce
    • 1 member – Monmouth County Board of Freeholders
    • 1 member – Fort Monmouth representative (non-voting)
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  4. What are FMERPA goals?
    FMERPA is responsible for developing a reuse plan for Fort Monmouth. Our task is to work with the public, the Army, government officials and other interested parties to:

         a.  Develop a new vision for this valuable property
         b.  Develop a specific plan of action to achieve this vision

    FMERPA holds no preconceived notions as to what should happen with the Base property. Our goal is to proceed through the various screening processes while at the same time involving the public in developing a viable, beneficial master reuse plan.
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  5. How long is the planning process?
    The planning process will take approximately 18 months and will be completed by September 2008.
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  6. What is the Federal Screening Process?
    FMERPA is responsible for developing a reuse plan for Fort Monmouth. Our task is to work with the public, the Army, government officials and other interested parties to:

         a.  Develop a new vision for this valuable property
         b.  Develop a specific plan of action to achieve this vision

    FMERPA holds no preconceived notions as to what should happen with the Base property. Our goal is to proceed through the various screening processes while at the same time involving the public in developing a viable, beneficial master reuse plan.
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  7. What is the Homeless Provider Screening Process?
    Once the Army makes it "Declaration of Surplus", on September 9, 2006 we began soliciting interest in surplus federal property from homeless providers. The requested property will assist those eligible agencies in satisfying the unmet needs of the homeless in the "vicinity of the base." You can find additional information about the homeless provider screening process in Understanding Reuse and Revitalization.
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  8. What is the State and Local Screening Process?
    Like the homeless provider screening process, the state and local screening process cannot begin until the Army makes its Declaration of Surplus property. At that point, governments and other nonprofit organizations can begin the application process to obtain a "public benefit conveyance" of property. Examples of such organizations include: education, health, parks and recreation, historic monuments, public airports, highways, and self-help housing, among others. This process gives interested parties the opportunity to make an application to FMERPA to use base property for their organizations.
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  9. What is the Master Reuse Plan?
    The master reuse plan is the means by which a community defines a comprehensive reuse strategy, and it serves as a guide to the Military Department for the disposal of surplus property, leading to the orderly transfer of federal property from the Department of Defense to civilian reuse. The master reuse plan will identify the proposed land uses, supporting infrastructure, phasing schedule, and capital improvement programs needed to implement the plan. While the community identifies specific land uses in the plan, the Military Department, as the property disposal agent, identifies the final property disposal mechanisms.
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  10. Who is involved in developing the Master Reuse Plan?
    The plan involves a variety of entities including all major stakeholders affected by the closure such as local residents and elected officials, state officials, FMERPA members and staff.
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