Young Introduces Legislation to Help River Ridge

Press Release

Rep. Todd Young (R-IN9) introduced H.R. 4407, the Base Redevelopment and Indemnification Correction (BRIC) Act, on Thursday, a piece of legislation designed to help redevelop former military installations that were closed outside of the normal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

The BRIC Act would immediately help one such installation in southern Indiana: The former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (INAAP) in Jeffersonville, now known as River Ridge Commerce Center.

"If you ask any economic development expert in the area, nearly every one of them will tell you that River Ridge is the biggest opportunity for new jobs and growth in our area," said Young. "Amazon and the 1,000 jobs they are bringing to River Ridge is proof of that fact. But concerns about the chemicals used in the production of ammunition bring up legal liability issues that make many businesses hesitant to invest there. This legislation would solve that problem by putting a sort of insurance policy on the property for businesses that locate there."

Businesses which redevelop military installations closed under BRAC guidelines set out in 1988 are given protection from legal action and costs associated with the release of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants used in Department of Defense activities. While most bases are closed under BRAC, a handful have been closed by the Secretary of Defense outside of that process.

The northern portion of INAAP--which is now Charlestown State Park--was closed under the BRAC guidelines. But the southern portion--which is reserved for economic development by the state and county through the River Ridge Development Authority--was not. While the federal government has cleaned up most of the property, businesses that help redevelop River Ridge are not guaranteed protection from issues that might arise from the production of ammunition decades ago.

"This bill would simply minimize risk for potential job creators at places like River Ridge in the same way that we minimize risk for potential job creators at any other closed military facility," said Young. "It's a glaring loophole that is holding back economic development in southern Indiana, but we think we've found an easy solution. Because the proposed East End Bridge and I-265 extension run along the River Ridge property, the timing on this couldn't be better to help kickstart the local economy."

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