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| | FOR- Programs - Puerto Rico - Vieques Update |
 | | The House of Representatives passed a bill in July to close the Roosevelt Roads naval base in eastern Puerto Rico in early 2004, without waiting for the round of national base closures in 2005. |
 | | Base closures often benefit local economies in the long term, but require extensive planning that the House plan for a quick sell-off would undermine. |
 | | The base has nine deep-water ports, an airport, sophisticated communication facilities, a hospital, desalinization plant, four water treatment plants, 110 miles of roads, 42 miles of coastline, including three developed beaches, 1,340 housing structures, a marina, hotels, commercial facilities, a dump, two schools, a university center, and sports areas. |
| www.forusa.org /programs/puertorico/pr_update_0803-2.html (500 words) |
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