The Navy plans to dispose of Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Warminster pursuant to the 1991 and 1995 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act (BRAC) recommendations. NAWCAD is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, approximately 18 miles (mi) (29 kilometers KM) north of Center City Philadelphia. The NAWCAD property's approximately 824 acres (333 hectares) lie within three municipalities: 609 acres (247 hectares) are within Warminster Township (74 percent); 46 acres (19 hectares) are within Ivyland Borough (six percent); and 169 acres (68 hectares) are within Northampton Township (20 percent). NAWCAD has been the principal Navy research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT & E) center for Naval avionics and airborne and antisubmarine warfare systems. In 1991, the BRAC Commission (Commission) recommended the realignment of NAWCAD Warminster. The majority of the aircraft systems RDT & E would be relocated to NAWCAD Patuxent River, Maryland. A few specialized, immovable facilities would remain at NAWCAD Warminster.

As directed by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act (BRAC) and implemented by the 1991 and 1995 BRAC process, the Navy plans to close and dispose of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Warminster, located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, approximately 18 miles (mi) (29 kilometers KM) north of Center City Philadelphia. This facility has been the principal Navy research, development, test, and evaluation center for naval aircraft systems and airborne and antisubmarine warfare systems. Because BRAC II provided specific direction regarding the relationship between the property disposal process and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, this Environmental Impact Statement (El S) has been prepared to address the probable impacts of the disposal and reuse of NAWCAD, and thereby to fulfill requirements for NEPA compliance. The Base Closure and Realignment Commission determined in 1991 that NAWCAD would be slated for a major realignment. The majority of the aircraft systems Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT & E) would be relocated to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Patuxent River, Maryland. A few specialized, immovable facilities would remain at NAWCAD. The dynamic flight simulator and the RDT & E Division would remain, and the Oreland Open Water Facility would remain government property under NAWCAD Patuxent River. Military family housing would be retained. All other tenant commands would be disestablished or relocated off the site. Subsequently, in 1995, the Commission recommended that several NAWCAD facilities designated to be retained by the Navy should, in fact, be closed and disposed of: the inertial laboratory (Bldg 108); the dynamic flight simulator buildings (Bldgs 70 and 72); and extensions of the main complex of buildings (Bldgs 125 and 138). The military family housing would be retained and.

The Department of the Navy (Navy), pursuant to Section 102(2) (C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C.S 4332(2) (C) (1994), and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality that implement NEPA procedures, 40 C.F.R. Parts l5OO-15O8 hereby announces its decision to dispose of Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Warminster (NAWC), which is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Navy analyzed the impacts of the disposal and reuse of NAWC Warminster in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as required by NEPA. The EIS analyzed four reuse alternatives and identified the Proposed Reuse Plan, Naval Air Warfare Center, Bucks County, approved on June 10, 1997, (Reuse Plan) as the Preferred Alternative. The Preferred Alternative proposed to use the base for residential, commercial, municipal, and assisted living activities; to provide low income and homeless assistance services; to develop public parks and recreational areas; and to build access roads.