Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the closure of the Pease Air Force Base, focusing on: (1) the goals and expectations of the closure; and (2) how environmental concerns and conditions have slowed redevelopment.

GAO found that: (1) the primary goal of the Air Force was to rapidly transfer the base property to civilian use; (2) the presence of hazardous waste at the base has delayed redevelopment because there is a need to clarify how much cleanup is necessary before transfer of the property; (3) the Department of Defense is responsible for facility cleanup; (4) facility transfer cannot take place until the Environmental Protection Agency certifies the facility as environmentally safe; (5) the Air Force signed documents with the development authority that allowed development to start during cleanup; (6) the total estimated one-time cost to close Pease Air Fore Base has increased over $100 million between fiscal years 1991 and 1993; and (7) the estimated revenue from land sales have decreased.