Alcatraz --American Devils Island-- Infamous, Notorious, Obsolete

HEADQUARTERS
7th Comm. Bn. (-) Rein.
FPO PacFlt Support
FMF SF 9002x
May 2025

Fm.     Charlie.Two SU Alpha.

To.      CMG, FMF

Subj.  Alcatraz --American Devils Island-- Infamous, Notorious, Obsolete

 Ref: DivO 5750.2B

    (a) MCO 5750.4

    (b) FMF Pac 5750.8

    (c) DivO 57550.2B

Encl: (1) In accordance with the above provisions of references (a), (b), and (c), enclosure (1) is submitted herewith.

PART I.   ORGANIZATIONAL DATA 

    Several federal and civilian agencies, bureaus, and contractors are or would be involved in upgrading Alcatraz for its potential reopening as a prison:

 
1.  Federal Agencies:
        a.  The National Park Service (NPS) currently manages Alcatraz as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is responsible for historic preservation and environmental compliance.
        b.  The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) under the Department of Justice would lead the prison operations and has begun assessments for reopening.
        c.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is mentioned as a cooperating agency in the reopening plan.

2.  Environmental regulatory agencies.

        a. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

        b.  San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

        c.  San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) for permits and environmental compliance.

        d.  Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is required, involving state environmental agencies and public review processes.

 
3.  Contractors and Companies:
        a.  The construction firm Tutor Perini has a $48.6 million contract with the NPS for historic structure stabilization and rehabilitation of Alcatraz, focusing on structural repairs, hazardous material removal, and seismic upgrades.
        b.  Anchor QEA was involved in environmental impact assessments related to ferry embarkation improvements linked to Alcatraz, handling regulatory and environmental permitting.

 
4.  Environmental and State Involvement:
        a.  California’s CEQA requires detailed environmental impact studies addressing wildlife protection (e.g., migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act), water resources, and habitat conservation.
        b.  The island’s unique environment-no mainland electrical or water connections, reliance on ferries for supplies, and protected wildlife-adds complexity to upgrades and reopening.

5.  In summary, reopening Alcatraz as a prison involves coordination between the Department of Justice (BOP, FBI), National Park Service, state environmental agencies, and specialized contractors like Tutor Perini, all under strict environmental and historic preservation regulations.

PART II.  NARRATIVE SUMMARY
    Contractors upgrading Alcatraz for reopening as a prison would face several major challenges:

 
1.  Extensive structural decay: 

        a.  The prison buildings suffer from severe deterioration due to decades of saltwater exposure, requiring major concrete repairs, steel reinforcement replacement, and seismic retrofitting to meet safety standards.

2.  Outdated and inadequate infrastructure: 

        a.  Plumbing, electrical systems, and sewage disposal need complete modernization. 

        b.  Current regulations prohibit dumping sewage into the bay, so waste must be transported by barge, complicating logistics.

3.  High operational costs: 

        a.  Maintaining and operating a prison on an isolated island is extremely expensive. 

        b.  All water, food, fuel, and supplies must be ferried by boat, and raw sewage removed similarly, driving annual costs to potentially three times that of mainland prisons.

4.  Space constraints and cramped cells: 

        a.  Original cells are too small by modern standards, making it difficult to meet current prison regulations without extensive rebuilding.

5.  Coordination and management hurdles: 

        a.  Transferring control from the National Park Service, which currently manages the site as a historic tourist attraction, to the Bureau of Prisons involves complex bureaucratic and legal challenges.

6.  Environmental and historic preservation concerns: Renovations must balance modern prison needs with preserving the site's historic status, complicating construction and design.

7.  These factors combine to make reopening Alcatraz as a functional, modern prison a costly and logistically formidable project, with estimates for initial upgrades ranging from $175 million to over $300 million and annual operating expenses up to $75 million

PART III. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
    Reopening Alcatraz as a prison would face significant environmental and regulatory challenges. 

1.  Environmental Impact

        a.  The island is a protected historic site and home to protected bird species, requiring compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which restrict activities during breeding seasons. 

                (1)  Environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) would be mandatory, involving detailed impact assessments on wildlife, water resources, and historic preservation. 

                (2)  The island’s lack of soil, fresh water, and difficult logistics for transporting supplies add to the complexity and cost of redevelopment. 

                (3)  Past projects on Alcatraz, such as ferry improvements, took years to gain environmental clearance and permits, illustrating the lengthy process any prison reopening would entail.

               (4)  Overall, reopening Alcatraz as a prison would require extensive environmental mitigation, historic preservation efforts, and substantial infrastructure investment.

2. Infrastructure Assessment

        a.  Upgrading Alcatraz as a modern prison would require extensive and costly infrastructure improvements due to its current state and location challenges:
        b.  Structural Renovation: 

                (1)  The main prison building needs seismic retrofitting, concrete repair, steel support replacement, and removal of hazardous materials to meet safety standards.

                (2)  A $48.6 million renovation project is underway to stabilize the historic structures, but further work would be needed for operational prison use.
        c.  Security Upgrades: 

                (1)  Original security features (steel cell fronts, guard towers, metal detectors) are outdated. 

                (2)  Modern prisons require advanced surveillance, fencing, electronic controls, and secure perimeters, none of which currently exist on the island.
        d.  Utilities and Logistics: Alcatraz lacks modern water, sewage, and power infrastructure. 

                (1)  All supplies, including fuel, food, and waste removal, must be transported by boat, making operations costly and complex. 

                (2)  Upgrading plumbing and sewage systems alone could take years and cost hundreds of millions.
        e.  Access and Support Facilities: 

                (1)  The concrete wharf and dock need repairs and seismic strengthening to ensure safe, reliable access for staff, visitors, and supply deliveries. 

                (2)  A $35 million project is addressing this, but further enhancements would be necessary for prison operations.
        f.  Financial and Operational Feasibility: 

                (1)  Estimates suggest initial renovation costs could exceed $235 million, with annual operating expenses up to $70 million, far surpassing mainland prison costs. 

                (2)  The island’s isolated location and aging infrastructure present ongoing challenges.

3.  Projected Congressional Budget for Upgrading and Reopening Alcatraz Prison         a.  Initial Capital Costs:
                (1)  Structural repairs and earthquake retrofitting: $175 million to $250 million.
        b.  Modern security and facility upgrades: included in above
                (1)  Total initial rebuild and renovation: $235 million to $370 million (estimates vary)
        c.  Annual Operating Costs:
                (1)  Transportation of supplies (water, food, fuel) by barge

                (2)  Removal of sewage by barge
                (3)  Staffing and security expenses
                (4)  Estimated annual operating budget: $60 million to $75 million, roughly three times mainland prison costs due to logistics
        d.  Revenue and Economic Impact:
                (1)  Current tourism revenue from Alcatraz as a historic site: approx. $60 million annually
                (2)  Potential loss of tourism and impact on San Francisco economy and National Park Service operations.
        e.  Political and Policy Considerations:
                (1)  Critics highlight exorbitant costs, logistical challenges, and loss of a national historic landmark
                (2)  Supporters argue symbolic value as a deterrent to violent crime and restoring law and order justifies expense
                (3)  Debate over government spending priorities amid Justice Department budget cuts.
        f.  This budget would require congressional approval amid significant controversy over fiscal feasibility and impact on historic preservation and local economies.

4.  In summary, reopening Alcatraz as a working prison would demand massive investment in structural, security, and utility upgrades, alongside complex logistics for supply and waste management, making it a highly expensive and difficult undertaking.

PART IV.  CIVIL AFFAIRS

 
1.  Opponents of reopening Alcatraz as a prison, including civil rights advocates, criticize the move as symbolic of a regressive era marked by systemic racism and harsh law enforcement policies. 

        a.  They view it as part of a broader push to empower authorities to act without accountability, rolling back criminal justice reforms inspired by movements against police brutality and racial injustice. 

        b.  Critics argue that reopening Alcatraz signals a return to punitive approaches disproportionately impacting Black and brown communities rather than promoting rehabilitation or justice.

 
2.  Additionally, there is widespread skepticism about the practicality and cost of reopening Alcatraz, given its high operational expenses and status as a historic site and tourist attraction. 

        a.  Legal experts foresee numerous lawsuits and logistical challenges, while civil rights opponents see the plan as politically motivated and harmful to ongoing efforts for criminal justice reform.

 
3.  Media skepticism over President Trump's plan to reopen Alcatraz as a prison centers on the enormous financial, logistical, and infrastructural challenges involved. 

        a.  Experts and historians highlight that the prison's facilities are severely deteriorated, with crumbling buildings, outdated plumbing and sewage systems, and no modern security upgrades like cameras or fencing. 

        b.  The island's isolation complicates supply logistics, requiring all essentials and waste removal to be transported by boat, which adds to costs. 

        c.   Alcatraz was closed in 1963 primarily due to its exorbitant operational costs-about three times higher than other federal prisons at the time-and these costs would be even greater today, potentially exceeding $500 per inmate daily.         d.  Renovations would require extensive rebuilding and modernization, including seismic retrofitting, water, electricity, and sewage infrastructure, with estimates of hundreds of millions of dollars needed upfront. 

4.   Local officials and lawmakers have dismissed the plan as unrealistic, emphasizing Alcatraz's current status as a popular national park and tourist site that draws over a million visitors annually. 

        a.  While some supporters view reopening Alcatraz as a symbolic tough-on-crime statement, most experts regard the proposal as impractical and costly, with the project needing to overcome "daunting" hurdles to become viable.

5.  Several individual opponents have publicly criticized President Trump's plan to reopen Alcatraz as a prison, citing cost, feasibility, and symbolic concerns: 

        a.   Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat whose district includes Alcatraz, called the proposal "not a serious one," emphasizing the island's current status as a popular national park and tourist attraction. 

        b.   Scott Wiener, Democratic state senator from San Francisco, described the idea as "both nuts & terrifying," highlighting the impracticality of converting a museum back into a prison. 

        c.   Brian Krassenstein, a social media influencer who visited Alcatraz, called the plan "the dumbest proposal I've heard," pointing to structural decay, expensive logistics, and the need for extensive retrofitting. 

        d.   Michael Esslinger, an author on Alcatraz history, said reopening would mean "dismantling a national landmark just to create a prison that primarily serves aesthetic purposes," noting it doesn't make financial sense. 

        e.   Various experts and commentators have stressed the enormous financial and logistical challenges, estimating initial costs between $235 million and $370 million, with annual operating expenses up to $70 million, far exceeding typical mainland prison costs. 

        f.   Critics also argue there is no operational need since the U.S. already has maximum-security prisons for dangerous offenders, and Alcatraz’s closure was due to deterioration, not leniency. Overall, opposition centers on the high costs, impracticality, loss of a historic site, and the lack of necessity for reopening Alcatraz as a prison

PART V.   SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS 

1.  Here are some titles of opinion pieces and media articles citing opposition to reopening Alcatraz as a prison: 

        "Trump’s Call to Reopen Alcatraz Prison Meets California Scorn" (Bloomberg)          "‘Totally inoperable’: Alcatraz prison Trump wants to reopen lacks water, sewer" (San Francisco Chronicle) 

         "Donald Trump's Alcatraz Prison Idea Faces Scrutiny Over Costs" (Newsweek)          "Critics Sink Trump's 'Asinine' Plan To Reopen Alcatraz Prison" (Yahoo News)          "Is Trump's plan to reopen notorious Alcatraz prison realistic?" (BBC) 

2.  These pieces highlight concerns about the high costs, logistical challenges, infrastructure decay, and political criticism from California Democrats calling the plan unserious, absurd, or unhinged.

3.  Synthetic intelligence: Perplexity AI

4.  Current news, media platforms, outlets, social media venues.

5.  Image:  https://baynature.org/article/alcatraz-island-is-a-renowned-prison-but-a-horticultural-gem/

6.  Report:  JC-Lima, NCTC/R. (204xxxx-2533), FB Tango.

JTF-SB 2025                                                                                      

3/LRC/cr1/5750

CMCC NR _____3______                                                           

Ser. No. 040-25

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May 2025