Community Consensus
In 1942, the Badger Army Ammunition Plant (BAAP) was
constructed in Sauk County, Wisconsin. The plant manufactured
ammunition for the Army until it was closed in 1975.
In 1998 the Army declared the property to be excess,
and began the process to transfer it to other entities.
Many communities, organizations and individuals expressed
strong concern about the future of this extraordinary
property.
The BAAP property is over 7,000 acres adjoining
Devil’s Lake State Park. Set in the beautiful
Baraboo hills, the opportunity to preserve the land
for the use and enjoyment of future generations is
truly extraordinary.
I have always believed in the importance of community
participation in this determination, and worked hard
to establish a facilitated community consensus process.
I was pleased to secure a special federal grant
of $100,000 to fund that process. After countless
hours of work by numerous concerned state and local
government organizations, community leaders, environmental
organizations, and concerned citizens, a consensus
plan was developed. The plan is truly visionary—restoring
the land for conservation and recreation. My work
in support of this community consensus plan continues.
Badger Reuse Committee Final Report
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Next Steps
The General Services Administration (GSA)—the
federal agency responsible for the disposal of the
Badger property—has a legal obligation to manage
the property disposal process.
I am pleased that GSA continues to coordinate with
the State of Wisconsin, the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
and the Ho-Chunk Nation to implement a plan for the
property that is grounded in the work and report of
the Badger reuse committee. Transfer of a part of the
land to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its
Dairy Forage Research facility has already been completed.
Environmental cleanup of Badger remains one of my
top priorities, and I will continue my work with other
federal and state officials to ensure the best possible
remediation of the Badger property. However, the level
of remediation required by law is not as comprehensive
as the cleanup that will be needed if the reuse committee’s
vision is to be fulfilled. That achievement will require
active participation and support at all levels, both
inside and outside of government. Already, the Army
has made significant progress in addressing the environmental
hazards that exist in certain portions of BAAP, and
I intend to remain actively involved in ensuring full
cleanup.
It will be many years before the complete transition
from the BAAP of today to the full implementation of
the community’s vision for the BAAP lands. Hundreds
of committed individuals have given thousands of hours
of effort to make it this far, and more will be required.
My commitment to the extraordinary consensus expressed
in the Badger reuse plan is unwavering.
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