Former McClellan Air Force Base (BRAC 2001)

Summary
Location: Sacramento, California
Total Acreage: 3,458 Acres
Closed: July 2001

History
With war clouds gathering over the Pacific, the U.S. Congress authorized construction of the Sacramento Air Depot in 1936. The new depot would support air operations on the West Coast, as well as provide a staging area for aircraft and material bound for the Pacific. In 1939, the installation's name changed to McClellan Field in honor of Maj. Hezekiah McClellan, a pioneer in arctic aeronautical tests. Throughout most of its history, McClellan was one of only four air depots in the U.S. charged with overhauling and repairing military aircraft. Read more history here.

After the Cold War ended, McClellan's closure was announced in 1995 by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission as part of the Department of Defense's efforts to downsize, consolidate, and streamline operations. On July 13, 2001, the Air Force officially closed McClellan AFB after 65 years of operation. For its employees and the people in the surrounding communities, the event marked the end of one era and the beginning of another as the former base began its conversion from an active military base to a vital business park.

Environmental Activities
The cleanup program at McClellan is the largest such effort in the Air Force with some $500 million spent so far and another $400 million anticipated to be spent before the cleanup is complete. The Air Force is committed to ensuring that the former base is safe for the environment and the people who live, work, and play there. Remedies to achieve that goal are tailored to the specific site, contaminants, and intended use. Read more about cleanup activities here.

Property Transfer
Since closing in 2001, the former McClellan Air Force Base has become a model, both nationally and internationally, for successful environmental cleanup and simultaneous transformative redevelopment. When the BRAC Commission announced in 1995 that McClellan AFB would close, the surrounding community feared it was a death knell for the region. Now, some 10 years later, approximately 13,500 employees and visitors are at the 240 businesses located at the former base on an average day, more than worked at the base when closure was announced. Read more here.



McClellan RAB Meeting
Date/Time: Meeting Date/Time TBD
Location: Meeting Location TBD