Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant (AAP)
is in the northern San Joaquin Valley, 6 miles northeast of Modesto
and 90 miles east of San Francisco. It includes 132 buildings,
19 from the original con-struction period, and covers 168 acres.
Some acreage is currently leased to nonmilitary concerns. In
2005, however, Department of Defense (DoD) recommended to Close
Riverbank AAP in its Base Realignment and Closure Commission
(BRAC) Recommendations (see below for details).
Riverbank AAP was constructed in 1942
and began operation as an aluminum reduction facility in 1943.
During World War II, its annual production of aluminum, a critical
component for aircraft manufacture, was 96 million pounds. The
plant was closed in 1944 as requirements for aircraft declined.
During the Korean War it was reopened and converted to an Army
ammunition plant for the manufacture of steel car-tridge cases.
It was the largest shell-casing plant at that time, operated
by Norris Industries.
Construction activities and the installation
of six production lines were assigned to Bechtel Corp. The site
was closed again in 1958 but reopened in 1966 to produce shell
and mortar casings and related metal parts for the Vietnam War.
It was again operated by Norris Industries in association with
Bechtel Corp. It was classified as inactive in 1981. Norris Industries
is the current contractor, and the plant is in maintenance or
lay-away of standby facilities. Current tenants include American
Safety Products and LMC-West.
BRAC 2005
In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD
recommended to close Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant, CA by relocating
the artillery cartridge case metal parts functions to Rock Island
Arsenal, IL. There were 4 sites within the Industrial Base producing
Metal Parts. To remove excess from the Industrial Base, the closure
would allow DoD to generate efficiencies and nurture partnership
with multiple sources in the private sector.
The total estimated one-time cost to the
Department of Defense to implement this recommendation would
be $25.2M. The net of all costs and savings to the Department
during the implementation period would be a cost of $10.4M. Annual
recurring savings to the Department after implementation would
be $6.5M with a payback expected within 3 years. The net present
value of the costs and savings to the Department over 20 years
would be a savings of $53.3M. Assuming no economic recovery,
this recommendation could result in a maximum potential reduction
of 106 jobs (89 direct jobs and 17 indirect jobs) over the 2006
– 2011 period in the Modesto, CA Metropolitan Statistical
Area (less than 0.1 percent). Environmentally, continued management
and/or deed restrictions at Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant would
be necessary to ensure future protection of federally listed
species. Restoration, monitoring/sweeps, access controls, and/or
deed restrictions might be required at Riverbank Army Ammunition
Plant to prevent disturbance, health and safety risks, and/or
long-term release of toxins to environmental media. Riverbank
Army Ammunition Plant also had a domestic wastewater treatment
facility that might require cleanup. This recommendation will
require spending approximately $2.5M for environmental compliance
activities. Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant reported approximately
$10.5M in environmental restoration costs, which DoD has a legal
obligation to pay regardless of BRAC's final decision.
Source: GlobalSecurity.org
Historical
Data Card - Posts, Camp, Stations and Airfields, US Army Center
of Military History
