[CPEO-IRF] Governor's proposal for Willow Grove (PA)

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Press Release	
Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
December 2, 2005

PA Governor Rendell Takes Willow Grove Future-Use Proposal to Local 
Officials, Urges Support for Plan to Save Military Airfield

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of Pennsylvania 
Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Pennsylvania National Guard today 
briefed local officials in Horsham, PA, about ideas for the future use 
of NAS JRB Willow Grove.

"When the Department of Defense recommended the closure of one of three 
of this nation's only true joint reserve bases last May, the Willow 
Grove community responded with an overwhelming outpouring of support to 
'Save Our Base,'" said Governor Rendell. "Although we are all 
disappointed with the BRAC action to move the Navy and Marines, we still 
have an historic opportunity to save the base and preserve many of the 
benefits of a strong military presence in the Horsham community.

"While others may be planning for redevelopment, at this point, I am 
unwilling to give up on this opportunity to save the base and support 
the military in Horsham. Our plan shows that keeping this airfield open 
will keep 5,000 military jobs, save taxpayers millions of dollars, and 
assure that a vital public safety and homeland security asset remains in 
the region."

    State officials urged local leaders to back a plan that would:

     -- Save the military airfield and maintain military flying operations;
     -- Maintain and expand the capabilities of this regional public 
safety and homeland security asset;
     -- Establish military tenants and a manpower presence of more than 
5,000 reserve personnel;
     -- Lay groundwork for compatible inter-agency uses of the 
installation, such as FEMA and EPA;
     -- Save substantial federal dollars expected to be expended on
        redistributed units;
     -- Save state and federal military construction dollars while
        establishing joint facilities and joint training opportunities 
for the Army Reserves and Army National Guard;
     -- Free up prime real estate along Route 611 and in Warminster, 
Bucks County, for restriction-free redevelopment by the community.

The Pennsylvania plan for Willow Grove would keep the airfield under 
military control and allow for the continuation of military flying 
operations at the installation. It is legally consistent with both the 
BRAC recommendations, which now have the force and effect of law, and 
the decision of the United States District Court.

"When BRAC struck Willow Grove last May, state and local officials 
joined together to fight to save the base. We need to continue to work 
as a team to implement a realistic plan for future military use of this 
important installation," Rendell said.

The Governor was represented Friday in Horsham by Major General James 
Skiff, deputy adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard; 
Colonel Paul Comtois, vice-wing commander of the 111th Fighter Wing of 
the Pennsylvania Air National Guard; Dennis Guise, chief counsel for the 
Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Retired 
General and former Pennsylvania Adjutant General William B. Lynch; and 
Jeffrey D. Marrazzo, special assistant to the Governor.

The key wording of the BRAC law requires the establishment of a 
"contiguous enclave for the 111th Fighter Wing (ANG) and the 270th 
Engineering Installation Squadron (ANG) sufficient to support operations 
of those units, including flight operations, and compatible with joint 
use of the former Naval Air Station as a civilian airport." (Emphasis 
added.) The "contiguous enclave" will include, at a minimum, the 111th 
Fighter Wing, the 270th Engineering Installation Squadron (ANG) and the 
913th Airlift Wing (AFRES), as well as a new Armed Forces Reserve Center 
for the Army Reserve.

"We have told the Navy that it appears crystal clear that the enclave at 
Willow Grove should include working runways, towers and all other flight 
facilities," the Governor said.

Willow Grove's 8,000-foot runway is the longest in the region, outside 
of Philadelphia International Airport, and it has served effectively as 
a staging area during past emergencies.

"If the Navy sells Willow Grove's airfield, we will lose a vital piece 
of our national defense, which is essential to public safety, homeland 
security and emergency preparedness in southeastern Pennsylvania," the 
Governor said.

The Navy, which initially posted more than 1100 acres and 170 facilities 
for surplus at Willow Grove, has since cancelled this notice and has yet 
to indicate how it will re-interpret the BRAC decision and United States 
Court Decision.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania's future-use proposal establishes new military 
tenants while maintaining others, and creates an environment where other 
compatible government agencies will seek to call Willow Grove home - 
many have already expressed such an interest. The result, the Governor's 
representatives explained to local officials, is the potential for a 
robust military presence at Willow Grove, with more than 1,000 Army 
National Guard soldiers from the 56th Stryker Brigade being added, the 
manpower of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard being 
maintained and an increase of more than 1,300 Army Reserves at the 
installation.

In addition to the BRAC Commission ruling that the 111th Fighter Wing 
should not be deactivated and should maintain its end strength, the 
Commission took no action to authorize, or even permit, the disbanding 
of the 913th Airlift Wing (913th). Additionally, the Commission's found 
that the 913th should be included as part of the enclave maintained by 
the 111th. The 913th has no authorization under BRAC to move, go out of 
existence, change its flying mission or take any other action using BRAC 
funding. The BRAC ruling and findings on the 913th only further 
substantiate the argument that Willow Grove must maintain flying 
operations. How imprudent it would be to have a base with two flying 
units and no operating airfield!

Besides the flying units, Governor Rendell urged local officials to 
support Pennsylvania's proposal to move the new 56th Stryker Brigade 
Combat Team Headquarters to Willow Grove.

"The Stryker Brigade brings more than $1.5 billion to Pennsylvania's 
economy and the Guard's future-use plan for Willow Grove will station 
its headquarters and more than 1,000 personnel at the base," the 
Governor said.

Moving the Stryker to Willow Grove brings with it improved military 
cooperation, federal and state cost savings of $6 million and will allow 
private business expansion at Philadelphia's NE Airport.

What's more, Willow Grove's key strategic location is already attracting 
federal agencies to consider setting up shop there. FEMA is considering 
Willow Grove as a staging area and a potential site for a mobilization 
center, joint deployment processing facility, and storage area for 
emergency supplies and equipment. EPA has expressed a desire to place 
Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology 
(ASPECT) at Willow Grove - Congressman Curt Weldon testified to this 
very fact before the BRAC commission on July 7, 2005. Willow Grove has 
the potential to become the model of a joint inter-agency operating 
location, which will provide for surge capability and staging areas to 
support homeland security and emergency operations of all kinds.

In addition to the fact that the BRAC law and court decision require the 
airfield to stay open, many of the pending BRAC moves from Willow Grove 
carry a price tag that may be prohibitive. For instance, the estimated 
cost of the redistribution of the 913th is $60 million and the Marines 
have estimated their move to McGuire could cost around $235 million. It 
is possible that in order for the Navy to be housed at McGuire the 
runway there will have to be extended by 2,000 feet.

Finally, the plan also provides the community with an opportunity for 
redevelopment of at least 150 acres. The property, located along Route 
611 in Warminster, Bucks County, would be prime, restriction-free real 
estate that the community would have the ability to develop.

The Governor and the Pennsylvania National Guard believe this true 
multi- use plan provides the opportunity to save the installation and 
expand its capabilities to include inter-agency, joint-reserve 
compatible missions - the next generation of joint reserve bases where 
compatible government uses such as those necessary for homeland security 
and emergency preparedness, share facilities - all while freeing up 
prime real estate for redevelopment by the community.

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public 
education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing 
economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find 
out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his 
weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us.

...

For the original press release, go to 
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051202/phf022.html?.v=23

--
Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org
_______________________________________________
Installation_Reuse_Forum mailing list
Installation_Reuse_Forum@list.cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org/mailman/listinfo/installation_reuse_forum