Weilerbach

Weilerbach

Coat of arms
Weilerbach

Coordinates: 49°28′53″N 7°37′56″E / 49.48139°N 7.63222°E / 49.48139; 7.63222Coordinates: 49°28′53″N 7°37′56″E / 49.48139°N 7.63222°E / 49.48139; 7.63222
Country Germany
State Rhineland-Palatinate
District Kaiserslautern
Municipal assoc. Weilerbach
Government
 • Mayor Horst Bonhagen (SPD)
Area
 • Total 16.00 km2 (6.18 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)[1]
 • Total 4,501
 • Density 280/km2 (730/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 67685
Dialling codes 06374
Vehicle registration KL
Website www.weilerbach-pfalz.de

Weilerbach is a municipality in the district of Kaiserslautern, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated approximately 11 km north-west of Kaiserslautern.

Weilerbach is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde ("collective municipality") Weilerbach (population about 14,500).

Proposed American Military Hospital

The Verbandsgemeinde Weilerbach is the site for a new American hospital intended to replace the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) on the Landstuhl Army Base, in nearby Landstuhl, Germany.[2] The LRMC has been active since 1953; Citing the difficulty of maintaining the aging structure, officials have proposed replacing the LRMC with a new facility. Ground breaking took place in October 2014, and the planned completion date is summer 2020.

Controversy

In 2008, the Department of Defense approved $400 million to expand and renovate the existing hospital, contingent upon congressional support for the funding. In 2010, the proposal was changed to total replacement and relocation from Landstuhl to Weilerbach,[3] with increased funding of up to $1.2 billion (USD).[2][4] Both plans were met with some opposition, both within the US and in Germany. Congressional leaders and Pentagon officials have questioned the need and costs of the new hospital, in light of the reduction of forces in Germany, the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and the reduction of the military presence in Afghanistan.[4] Some Germans who deem the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan illegal and are opposed to continued US military presence in Germany consider the significant financial commitment to medical facilities to imply an intention for long-term occupation.[5] Concerns about deforestation at the new site,[6] as well as potential for groundwater pollution have also been expressed.[5][7] The suggested removal of the hospital from Landstuhl has led to concerns that the economy of Landstuhl will suffer.[8]

A different view is that a new hospital would be advantageous to the local economy; it would stimulate the state's building industry, with estimates of putting up to one billion dollars (USD) into the local economy over the long term. [3]

Scope of the new facilities

The proposed new hospital would combine the medical facilities from nearby Ramstein Air Base, and the existing LRMC hospital into one co-located medical center.[3] The LRMC provides treatment for more than 245,000 U.S. military personnel and their families within the European Command. LRMC is also the evacuation and treatment center for all injured U.S. service members and contractors as well as members of 44 coalition forces serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, as well as Africa Command, Central Command, European Command and Pacific Command.[9]

Transportation

Twin cities

References

  1. ↑ "Gemeinden in Deutschland mit Bevölkerung am 31. Dezember 2015" (PDF). Statistisches Bundesamt (in German). 2016.
  2. 1 2 "US-Militär baut nahe Ramstein neue Klinik". Ärzte Zeitung. 2012-02-29. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Svan, Jennifer (June 20, 2010). "Plans Eyed to Move Landstuhl Hospital". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  4. 1 2 Shanker, Thom (10 June 2012). "Pentagon and Congress Argue Over Hospital for Troops". New York Times. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  5. 1 2 Mraz, Steve (05 Sept 08). "Unser Kommentar auf Landstuhl erhält ein fünfstöckiges Bettenhaus für stationäre Patienten Dann können auch die Familien der Soldaten im Hospital behandelt werden" (PDF). Luftpost. Retrieved 16 June 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ↑ "US-Hospital-Neubau: Gespräche über Ersatzmaßnahmen". Rheinpfalz. 4 June 2012.
  7. ↑ Unser Kommentar (23 January 2010). "US-Militärs treffen sich mit deutschen Politikern, um über eine mögliche Verlegung des US-Hospitals Landstuhl zu sprechen" (PDF). Luftpost. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  8. ↑ Klöckner, Marcus (April 25, 2010). "Landstuhl will push to keep medical center By Marcus Klöckner , Jennifer Svan Stars and Stripes Published: April 25, 2010". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  9. ↑ Public Affairs Office. "Fact Sheet – LRMC Mission Landstuhl Regional Medical Center" (PDF). Retrieved 16 June 2012.
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