NASA’s Greenbelt campus includes a 105 acre parcel known as area 400. This parcel contains facilities that NASA desires to move to its main campus, but lacks the funds for the move. NASA requested the Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB) to recommend sale of this property for its commercial value pursuant to the Federal Sale and Assets Transfer Act of 2016 (FASTA). Under this act, even a transfer of property from one federal agency to another would require the receiving agency to pay the transferring agency the fair market value for the property. NASA would be able to use the money received from this type of sale to pay for the move of its facilities to its main campus. Area 400 abuts the Patuxent Research Refuge.
On December 27, 2021 the PBRB sent the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) its First Round Report Recommendations Pursuant to FASTA. In that report PBRB recommended that Area 400 be sold to the USFWS for inclusion in the Patuxent Research Refuge. Under the law if this parcel is not sold to USFWS it must be sold commercially on the open market. The USFWS does not have the funds in its budget to pay NASA for this property. In effect NASA and PBRB are asking USFWS to fund NASA’s operations. If OMB accepts PBRB’s recommendation, there is a substantial probability that Area 400 will be sold on the open market and will be lost to the refuge. Prince George’s County Audubon Society has requested the Office of Management and Budget to disapprove that recommendation.
On January 22, 2022 senators Cardin and Van Hollen and reresentatives Hoyer, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, and Raskin wrote the Office of Management and Budget informing it of their desire for Area 400 to be transferred to the USFWS for inclusion in the Patuxent Research Refuge and informed the Office of Management and Budget that this delegation would work to secure this land transfer to USFW.
Here are a copy of PG Audubon’s letter and the Congressional delegation letter to the Office of Management and Budget. If these letters lack a letterhead, it is because I did not know how to place a pdf document into this web site.
PG Audubon’s Letter:
Honorable Shalanda Young
Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget
Executive Office of the President
Dear Acting Director Young:
On December 27, 022 the Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB) sent your office its First Round Report Recommendations Pursuant to the Federal Sale and Assets Transfer Act of 2016 (FASTA). In that report PBRB identified a 100 acre parcel owned by the Goddard Space Flight Center and known as Area 400 for disposition pursuant to FASTA. This parcel of land is adjacent to the Patuxent Research Wildlife Refuge. Prince George’s County Audubon Society urges you to disapprove that recommendation.
The PBRB report recommended the transfer of this property to the Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service at its fair market value. The problem with this recommendation is that there are no funds available for the proposed payment. On January 20,2022 Senators Cardin and Van Hollen and Reresentatives Hoyer, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, and Raskin informed you of thpeir desire of an inter-agency transfer of this parcel to the USFW from NASA without the need for a FASTA fair market value payment. This Congressional delegation indicated it would work to secure this land transfer to USFW. If OMB accepts the PBRB recommendation it will cause the FWS to fund NASA’s needs or lose valuable property that will enhance the refuge to a commercial sale. It will also be acting against the expressed desire of this Congressional delegation.
The Recommendation Report contained no reason for the urgency of this sale. As part of the Refuge this forested tract can support regional air quality, clean water, wildlife habitat, and human recreation in alignment with President Biden’s “America the Beautiful” initiative. If OMB disapproves this recommendation Congress and or the Administration will have the ability to authorize the transfer of the property to USFWS without a payment. Disapproval of the recommendation provides practical alternatives to the PBRB’s recommended method of a commercial disposal while still accomplishing the PBRB’s stated purpose of securing the property for USFWS.
The Patuxent Research Refuge is our nation’s only research refuge. Over 260 different species of birds have utilized this refuge. The refuge’s scientists have led the way in sea duck, crane, insect, and other wildlife research. Its scientists confirmed the link between DDT and wildlife loss brought to the world’s attention by Rachel Carson in her book Silent Spring. Prince George’s County Audubon Society urges you to preserve this tract of land for the refuge’s future use. Please disapprove PBRB’s recommendation to dispose of NASA’s Area 400.
Very Truly Yours,
Kenneth A. Cohen
President, Prince George’s Audubon Society
301 477 3765 (home)
716 462 3862 (cell)
7305 Birdcherry Lane
Laurel, MD 20707
Congressional Delegation letter: January 20, 2022
The Honorable Shalanda Young Acting Director
Office of Management and Budget Executive Office of the President Washington, D.C. 20503
Dear Director Young:
As you consider recommendations provided to you by the Public Buildings Reform Board under the Federal Asset Sales and Transfer Act, we write to express our support for an inter-agency transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the 105-acre parcel owned by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Such a transfer would allow this parcel, also known as Area 400, to be added to the Patuxent Research Refuge (PRR), with lasting environmental benefits for future generations.
Located in Greenbelt, Maryland, Area 400 is a largely forested parcel that, protected in a natural state, contributes to the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The headwaters of the Patuxent River and Anacostia River flow through the property. Conserved land filters pollutants out of these waters and, eventually, the Chesapeake Bay. Area 400 lies adjacent to the Patuxent Research Refuge (PRR), which is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The PRR serves as vital habitat for more than 200 species of birds as well as other wildlife including turtles, foxes, beavers, and fish that is open to the public for outdoor recreation. Expanding the PRR by adding Area 400 makes ecological and economic sense and will support progress towards State and federal conservation goals.
We urge your support for a transfer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the most expedient manner possible, and we stand ready to work with you and offer any assistance that may be needed to achieve this goal.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Benjamin L. Cardin
United States Senator
Chris Van Hollen
United States Senator Page 2
Steny H. Hoyer Member of Congress
C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger Member of Congress
John P. Sarbanes Member of Congress
Jamie Raskin Member of Congress
Cc: The Honorable Bill Nelson, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The Honorable Martha Williams, Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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