A total of 4,889.12 acres were acquired during the period 1944 through 1946 by the Navy Department. This property was used for the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station and consisted of 4,855.45 acres acquired by fee and 33.67 acres acquired as easements.
The Naval Ammunition and Net Depot, Seal Beach (the center's original name) was activated in 1942 at the start of World War II. The base has been continuously used as an ammunition and weapons storage and transfer area. Some of the U.S. Navy improvements to the site include fuel tanks, administrative buildings, ammunition storage bunkers, auto maintenance shops, evaporation ponds and storage trailers. The Station is still being used as an ammunition and weapons storage and transfer area.
The majority of the Naval Weapons Station is still under the active control of the u.S. Navy. A total of 338.13 acres of the site is no longer under the control of the Navy. This property includes 194.05 acres transferred through easements for roads and flood control channels, 75.09 acres transferred through an out permit, and 68.99 acres disposed of through quitclaim deeds. The out permit was granted to Hancock Oil Company on 19 August 1959. The area is now owned by BrietBurn. The site was originally used for oil production and is currently being used for natural gas production. This property will transfer back to the Navy at the time oil extraction operations cease (in approximately 20 to 30 years).