U.S. Defense Department Announces Return of Facilities in Germany

September 23, 2011 defpro.com

The U.S. Department of Defense announced today that it will return several facilities to the German government. These are: the Oberweis Annex warehouse; three communication sites at Pruem Air Station, Hahn Communication Station and ARFT radio relay station; Hochspeyer ammunition storage facility; and Bitburg Storage Annex No.2 (French Kaserne).

These closures are part of U.S. European Command’s continued effort to remove non-enduring sites, bases and installations from its real-property inventory.

There are no personnel changes associated with these facilities and their return will have no impact on U.S. Air Forces in Europe operations in Europe. The United States plans to return the facilities to the host nation now through 2015.

Cost savings per site are as follows:

• Oberweis Annex warehouse: approximately $1.24 million

• Pruem Air Station communication sites, Hahn Communication Station and ARFT radio relay station: approximately $560,000

• Hochspeyer ammunition storage facility: approximately $52,000

• Bitburg Storage Annex No.2 (French Kaserne): approximately $1.5 million

As with all stationing actions, the United States has coordinated with host-nation officials prior to this public announcement.