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| March Joint Powers Authority | |
|---|---|
| Name | March Joint Powers Authority |
| Formation | 1996 |
| Type | Public agency |
| Headquarters | Riverside County, California |
| Region served | March Air Reserve Base area, Riverside County, California |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
March Joint Powers Authority is a public agency created to oversee the reuse, redevelopment, and long‑term management of the former March Air Force Base property following federal base realignment. It acts as a local coordinating entity for land use, environmental remediation, infrastructure development, and partnerships involving municipal, state, and federal stakeholders connected to March Air Reserve Base, Riverside County, and adjacent jurisdictions such as City of Moreno Valley and City of Perris.
The entity was formed in the aftermath of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decisions that affected March Air Force Base in the 1990s. Following the 1993 and 1995 BRAC rounds, local leaders in Riverside County, the City of Riverside, and other affected municipalities established a joint powers agreement to manage the transition from active United States Air Force operations to a mixed civilian, reserve, and commercial complex. Early efforts mirrored redevelopment processes at other closed installations like Naval Station San Diego conversions and Lowry Air Force Base reuse, with emphasis on environmental cleanup under statutes such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act frameworks. Negotiations involved federal agencies including the Department of Defense and the Air Force Real Property Agency, and required coordination with state entities such as the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
The authority is governed by a board comprised of elected officials and designees from participating jurisdictions, reflecting models of interlocal cooperation like those used by the San Diego Association of Governments and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Board membership typically includes county supervisors from Riverside County Board of Supervisors and leaders from affected cities, operating under a joint powers agreement similar to instruments used by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. An executive director and professional staff administer day‑to‑day operations, contracting with consultants and firms experienced in base redevelopment, environmental consulting, and real estate development—firms comparable to those engaged in projects at Presidio of San Francisco and Former Chanute Air Force Base.
The authority oversees parcels that include active military reservation areas such as parts of March Air Reserve Base, converted aviation facilities, industrial parks, and sections targeted for commercial aviation activity like air cargo operations adjacent to Ontario International Airport and John Wayne Airport marketplaces. Facilities management tasks encompass runway maintenance, hangar repurposing, utility infrastructure upgrades akin to projects at Tustin Marine Corps Air Station, and coordination with Transportation Security Administration and Federal Aviation Administration requirements for civil aviation activities. The site has hosted aviation tenants including reserve units of the Air Force Reserve Command and has attracted private sector logistics and aerospace companies similar to tenants at Edwards Air Force Base‑adjacent industrial zones.
Environmental remediation of former March Air Force Base sites has been a principal responsibility, involving assessments and cleanup under programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies like the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. Remediation efforts have addressed issues such as fuel contamination in groundwater, unexploded ordnance management, and soil remediation—challenges comparable to those at Mather Air Force Base and Beale Air Force Base. The authority coordinates hazardous materials response planning with Federal Emergency Management Agency frameworks and local first responders, and implements safety programs consistent with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards for contractor operations. Habitat preservation and species protection measures have required consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under provisions similar to those in the Endangered Species Act.
Financing redevelopment and maintenance has leveraged diverse mechanisms: sale and lease revenues, negotiated conveyances from the Department of Defense, grant funding from state and federal programs such as Department of Transportation aviation grants, and municipal bond issuances modeled on strategies used by Los Angeles World Airports expansions. Legal matters have included land transfer deeds, environmental liability allocations, and litigation or settlement negotiations sometimes paralleling disputes seen in other BRAC conversions. The authority must navigate procurement law, public contracting rules of California Public Contract Code, and intergovernmental agreements while managing long‑term obligations such as infrastructure bonds and environmental corrective action trusts.
The agency’s redevelopment strategy emphasizes job creation, regional economic development, and community reuse consistent with outcomes pursued at facilities like March Air Reserve Base‑area industrial developments. Partnerships with educational institutions such as University of California, Riverside and Riverside Community College District support workforce training programs tied to aerospace, logistics, and environmental remediation trades, reflecting collaboration models similar to those between California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and nearby military reuse sites. Cultural and historic preservation efforts have engaged organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local historical societies to retain heritage elements of the original base. Public‑private partnerships and memoranda of understanding with regional transit agencies, chambers of commerce, and economic development corporations have been instrumental in aligning land use with regional planning initiatives led by entities such as the Southern California Association of Governments.
Category:Organizations based in Riverside County, California Category:United States military base reuse