The Air Force on July 17 signed a lease that turns over 540 acres of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base in New York to the Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corp. (PARC) for economic reuse. The EPA and New York Gov. David Patterson approved an early transfer of the property. The Air Force, which closed the former Strategic Air Command bomber base under BRAC 1995, first had to ensure the property was environmentally clean and ready for redevelopment, which entailed removing hundreds of underground petroleum storage tanks and treating ground water and soil contamination. “We have been working the environmental issues at Plattsburgh and making tremendous progress,” said Dave Farnsworth, Air Force Real Property Agency environmental coordinator for Plattsburgh. He added that the service still has more work to do, but the “community has been pleased with the results.” PARC already has converted some 2,600 acres to businesses, nonprofit agencies, residential areas, community college facilities, and an airport. (AFRPA release)
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.