Army's Proposed Land Acquisition at Fort Hood, Texas, Not Justified

The proposed acquisition of approximately 60,000 acres of land adjoining Fort Hood in Texas is examined. The Army proposes to use the additional land for maneuvers and training purposes. Although regulations require that land needs be documented, the Army has no documented study to show how the need for additional land was determined in 1972. The request for additional land was apparently stimulated by a General Service Administration real property utilization survey. However, Army regulations and studies are not in agreement on maneuver area requirements, and a 1976 study does not support the need for additional area. This study contains errors; fails to recognize all available land; uses questionable approaches to arrive at maneuver area requirements; and includes provisions for exercises for which there are no official requirements. The maneuver areas at Fort Hood are not fully and efficiently utilized. The Army disregarded regulations concerning early release to the public about real estate acquisitions; the proposed acquisition was disclosed more than two years after the site was selected. The reported land requirement was overstated by at least 68,000 acres, exceeding the 59,300 acres requested.